Wall Deposits Research Articles

Canyon Wall and Floor Debris Deposits in Aeolis Mons, Mars.

Aeolis Mons (informally, Mount Sharp) exhibits a number of canyons, including Gediz and Sakarya Valles. Poorly sorted debris deposits are evident on both canyon floors and connect with debris extending down the walls for canyon segments that cut through sulphate‐bearing strata. On the floor of Gediz Vallis, debris overfills a central channel and merges with a massive debris ridge located at the canyon terminus. One wall‐based debris ridge is evident. In comparison, the floor of Sakarya Vallis exhibits a complex array of debris deposits. Debris deposits on wall segments within Sakarya Vallis are mainly contained within chutes that extend downhill from scarps. Lateral debris ridges are also evident on chute margins. We interpret the debris deposits in the two canyons to be a consequence of one or more late‐stage hydrogeomorphic events that increased the probability of landslides, assembled and channelized debris on the canyon floors, and moved materials down‐canyon. The highly soluble nature of the sulphate‐bearing rocks likely contributed to enhanced debris generation by concurrent aqueous weathering to produce blocky regolith for transport downslope by fluvial activity and landslides, including some landslides that became debris flows. Subsequent wind erosion in Gediz Vallis removed most of the debris deposits within that canyon and partially eroded the deposits within Sakarya Vallis. The enhanced wind erosion within Gediz Vallis was a consequence of the canyon's alignment with prevailing slope winds.

Microbe-Mediated Mn Oxidation—A Proposed Model of Mineral Formation

Manganese oxides occur in a wide range of environmental settings either as coatings on rocks, sediment, and soil particles, or as discrete grains. Although the production of biologically mediated Mn oxides is well established, relatively little is known about microbial-specific strategies for utilizing Mn in the environment and how these affect the morphology, structure, and chemistry of associated mineralizations. Defining such strategies and characterizing the associated mineral properties would contribute to a better understanding of their impact on the local environment and possibly facilitate evaluation of biogenicity in recent and past Mn accumulations. Here, we supplement field data from a Mn rock wall deposit in the Ytterby mine, Sweden, with data retrieved from culturing Mn oxidizers isolated from this site. Microscopic and spectroscopic techniques are used to characterize field site products and Mn precipitates generated by four isolated bacteria (Hydrogenophaga sp., Pedobacter sp., Rhizobium sp., and Nevskia sp.) and one fungal-bacterial co-culture (Cladosporium sp.—Hydrogenophaga sp. Rhizobium sp.—Nevskia sp.). Two of the isolates (Pedobacter sp. and Nevskia sp.) are previously unknown Mn oxidizers. At the field site, the onset of Mn oxide mineralization typically occurs in areas associated with globular wad-like particles and microbial traces. The particles serve as building blocks in the majority of the microstructures, either forming the base for further growth into laminated dendrites-botryoids or added as components to an existing structure. The most common nanoscale structures are networks of Mn oxide sheets structurally related to birnessite. The sheets are typically constructed of very few layers and elongated along the octahedral chains. In places, the sheets bend and curl under to give a scroll-like appearance. Culturing experiments show that growth conditions (biofilm or planktonic) affect the ability to oxidize Mn and that taxonomic affiliation influences crystallite size, structure, and average oxidation state as well as the onset location of Mn precipitation.

A review of Maillard reactions in spray dryers

Maillard reactions in liquid systems have been studied extensively, while those occurring during the spray-drying process have been less well studied. Current studies on Maillard reactions in spray dryers have been focussed heavily on empirical studies of the effects of the operating parameters. However, only modest attention has been paid to the fundamental reactions or to the interactions with the fundamental spray-drying process. Studies on the spray-drying process have shown that component segregation occurs during the process. Component segregation causes different ratios between various reacting components in different parts of particles, and this segregation process may change the kinetics of Maillard reactions. Particle residence times and the re-entrainment of wall deposits may also affect the extent of Maillard reaction since they determine the reaction time in spray dryers. Improving the design of spray dryers may also help to reduce the extent of the Maillard reactions in spray-dried products. • Kinetic studies for Maillard reactions for spray drying have been reviewed. • Features of Maillard reactions related to spray drying have been reviewed. • The importance of component segregation has been highlighted. • The importance of the particle-wall interaction has been discussed. • Techniques for measuring particle RTD in spray dryers have been reviewed.

Insights into the Geomicrobiology of Biovermiculations from Rock Billet Incubation Experiments.

Biovermiculations are uniquely patterned organic rich sediment formations found on the walls of caves and other subterranean environments. These distinctive worm-like features are the combined result of physical and biological processes. The diverse microbial communities that inhabit biovermiculations may corrode the host rock, form secondary minerals, and produce biofilms that stabilize the sediment matrix, thus altering cave surfaces and contributing to the formation of these wall deposits. In this study, we incubated basalt, limestone, and monzonite rock billets in biovermiculation mixed natural community enrichments for 468–604 days, and used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to assess surface textures and biofilms that developed over the course of the experiment. We observed alteration of rock billet surfaces associated with biofilms and microbial filaments, particularly etch pits and other corrosion features in olivine and other silicates, calcite dissolution textures, and the formation of secondary minerals including phosphates, clays, and iron oxides. We identified twelve distinct biofilm morphotypes that varied based on rock type and the drying method used in sample preparation. These corrosion features and microbial structures inform potential biological mechanisms for the alteration of cave walls, and provide insight into possible small-scale macroscopically visible biosignatures that could augment the utility of biovermiculations and similarly patterned deposits for astrobiology and life detection applications.

Alewife and Blueback Herring Captured by Intertidal Weirs of the Inner Bay of Fundy, Canada, Display Seasonal Demographics that Suggest Multiple Migrating Stocks

AbstractLittle information is available concerning the seasonal demographics of marine migrating Alewife Alosa pseudoharengus and Blueback Herring A. aestivalis, reported in commercial fisheries as “gaspereau” in Canada and “river herring” in the USA. Once adults and age‐0 juveniles depart from coastal spawning rivers, they migrate along the North American Atlantic coast and are difficult to access for scientific analysis. During June–October 1985, a total of 3,785 Alewife and 2,343 Blueback Herring were examined for length, sex, and gonadal stage from commercial intertidal fishing weirs in Minas Basin and Cobequid Bay, Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia. Of these, 999 adults were subsampled for total weight and body cavity fat deposits. Both species first appeared in the weirs during June, when Blueback Herring generally dominated catches. By July, catches were evenly divided between the two species, and Alewife dominated after mid‐August. Most adults were mature, and there was no discernable sex ratio pattern during the sampling period. Sampled fish exhibited abrupt changes in length, gonadal stage, condition factor, and abdominal wall and visceral mesentery fat deposits in relation to season (week), moon phase, and time of low tide. Sudden shifts in average lengths and fat deposits suggested that migrating Alewife were from different stocks. For Blueback Herring, the condition and status of fat deposits during June suggested that they were probably long‐distance adult migrators. Blueback Herring in Cobequid Bay weirs during July were probably from local stocks. Results from a total of 12,422 tagged adults that were released in Minas Basin and Cobequid Bay during 1985 supported these findings. We propose that shifts in condition and fat deposits can be used to estimate migration distance, discriminating among local, regional, and long‐distance movements.

Appendiceal diverticulosis, a potential mimic of low grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm: analysis of 20 cases

Objective: To study the clinicopathologic features and the key points of differential diagnosis of appendiceal diverticulosis (AD) and low-grade mucinous neoplasm (LAMN) to avoid over-diagnosis. Methods: The clinical data, pathologic features and follow-up information of 20 patients with AD, who were diagnosed in the Peking University Third Hospital from January 2010 to November 2019 were collected and compared with 44 cases of LAMN which were diagnosed during the same period. Results: Among the 20 cases of AD, hypermucinous epithelium, filiform villi or undulating epithelium and mucosa atrophy were observed in 10 (50.0%), 4 (20.0%) and 14 (70.0%) cases, respectively, however, focally loss of lamina propria and mucosa/submucosa fibrosis were observed only in 1 (5.0%) and 4 (20.0%) cases, respectively. Extramural mucin deposits were seen in 11 (55.0%) cases, all were acellular mucin. Mucosal Schwann cell hyperplasia were present in 12 (60.0%) cases. Nine (45.0%) and 5 (25.0%) cases were associated with acute diverticulitis or acute suppurative appendicitis, respectively. In comparison with AD, LAMN cases more frequently showed hypermucinous epithelium (42/44, 95.5%), filiform villi or undulating epithelium (43/44, 97.7%), loss of lamina propria (43/44, 97.7%) and fibrosis and hyalinization of appendiceal wall (44/44, 100.0%), whereas mucosal atrophy (4/44, 9.1%) and Schwann cell hyperplasia(11/44, 25.0%) were less frequently seen (P<0.05). Follow-up information was available for 10 AD patients and 27 LAMN patients; all were alive without evidence of recurrence. Conclusions: Epithelial hyperplasia, loss of lamina propria, fibrosis of the appendiceal wall and extramural mucin deposits may occur focally in AD and should be distinguished from LAMN. The preservation of normal appendiceal mucosa architecture, lack of diffuse appendiceal wall fibrosis and hyalinization, and no definite neoplastic epithelium are the key point for preventing over-diagnosis.

Recent Advances in Occupational Exposure Assessment of Aerosols.

Exposure science is underpinned by characterization (measurement) of exposures. In this article, six recent advances in exposure characterization by sampling and analysis are reviewed as tools in the occupational exposure assessment of aerosols. Three advances discussed in detail are (1) recognition and inclusion of sampler wall deposits; (2) development of a new sampling and analytical procedure for respirable crystalline silica that allows non-destructive field analysis at the end of the sampling period; and (3) development of a new sampler to collect the portion of sub-300 nm aerodynamic diameter particles that would deposit in human airways. Three additional developments are described briefly: (4) a size-selective aerosol sampler that allows the collection of multiple physiologically-relevant size fractions; (5) a miniaturized pump and versatile sampling head to meet multiple size-selective sampling criteria; and (6) a novel method of sampling bioaerosols including viruses while maintaining viability. These recent developments are placed in the context of the historical evolution in sampling and analytical developments from 1900 to the present day. While these are not the only advances in exposure characterization, or exposure assessment techniques, they provide an illustration of how technological advances are adding more tools to our toolkit. The review concludes with a number of recommended areas for future research, including expansion of real-time and end-of-shift on-site measurement, development of samplers that operate at higher flow-rates to ensure measurement at lowered limit values, and development of procedures that accurately distinguish aerosol and vapor phases of semi-volatile substances.

P1832IGG4 RELATED DISEASE: NEPHROPATHY AND BONE MARROW FAILURE IN A 2 YEAR-OLD CHILD

Abstract Background and Aims IgG4 related disease (IgG4 RD) is a recently recognized systemic immune-mediated disorder. Pathophysiology of the disease is still unclear. It is characterized by fibro-inflammatory damage of the tissues, IgG-4 positive plasma-cells and often by elevated serum IgG4. This systemic disease can potentially affect every organ. Renal involvement can include tubulo-interstitial nephritis (TIN), membranous glomerulopathy (MGP) and retroperitoneal fibrosis. The epidemiology is still poorly described, but the disease seems more frequent in men over 50 years of age. Only few cases of IgG4 RD are reported in pediatric patients. Method We describe the first case of IgG4 related kidney disease (IgG4 RKD) in a child with concomitant bone marrow failure. Results M.C., a 2 year-old child, was diagnosed in 2017 with a trilinear bone marrow failure (HB 7.2 g/dL; PLT 6.000/mmc; PMC 923/mmc). Bone marrow biopsy showed poor and dyshomogeneous cellularity (20%) and lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate organized in two follicular structures. All investigations performed to rule out inherited bone marrow failure were negative (DEB test, telomere lenght measurement, c-Mpl mutation analysis, mithocondrial DNA analysis) IgG subclass analysis showed elevated serum levels of IgG4 subclass (353 mg/dL- normal level &amp;lt; 120 mg/dL). During the hospitalization, kidney failure with tubular acidosis was also found (creatinine 1.3 mg/dL, eGFR 28.5 mL/min/1.73 mq, bicarbonate 8.3 mEq/L). Urine analysis showed microematuria, proteinuria (1.07 g/L) and granular casts. Renal ultrasound did not demonstrate abnormal findings. A renal biopsy was performed and a kidney sample with up to 40 glomeruli was obtained. Light microscopy (H&amp;E, JSM, PAS and Masson’s trichrome stains) showed tubule-interstitial inflammatory infiltrate (mainly composed of lymphoplasmacytic cells), irregular thickening of the glomerular basement membranes. IHC stains for C4D showed subepithelial deposits (++). IF was negative for IgA, IgM, C4 and C1q while showed subepithelial glomerular membrane IgG deposits (+++) with granular pattern and tubular wall deposits; glomerular deposits (+) and focal tubular deposits (+++) of C3. A diagnosis of MGP associated with TIN was made. IHC staining for IgG4 was also performed, which demonstrated plasmacells with overlapping positivity for IgG and IgG4. After the diagnosis of IgG4 RKD, an immune-suppressive therapy with steroids (1 mg/kg/die)– targeting both the haematological disorder and glomerulopathy - was started, without clinical response. Thereafter the patient underwent bone marrow transplant from HLA-identical family donor. Conclusion GMP indeed is a very uncommon disease in childhood. Moreover, the association of GMP with TIN is reported in few cases in the literature. Only in the last decade some case of TIN and GMP have been recognized as IgG4 RD and few cases have been reported in adults of IgG4 RKD with simultaneous TIN and GMP. To exclude primary GMP we will perform also the research of antiPLA2r1 antibodies in kidney biopsy. However, the specificity of antiPLA2r in children is lower than in adults and the association of primary GMP with IgG4 TIN is unlikely. IgG4 RD is an emerging systemic disease and it should be taken into account in differential diagnosis in systemic auto-immune diseases, also in the pediatric age. IgG4 RKD and bone marrow failure IgG4 RD are very rare in children but its real incidence among pediatric patients could be still underestimated.

Skin and Arterial Wall Deposits of 18F-NaF and Severity of Disease in Patients with Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum.

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is a genetic disease characterized by the calcification of elastin fibers. Our aim was to quantify vascular calcification in the arteries and the deposition of 18F-sodium-fluoride (18F-NaF) in the skin and vessel walls with positron emission tomography/computed tomography. This was an observational study including 18 patients with PXE. Vascular calcification was measured in Agatston units, and deposition in the skin and vessel walls was shown using target-to-background ratio (TBR). Severity of the disease was scored by Phenodex. We found higher vascular calcification in the popliteal, femoral, and aortic arch vessels compared to other vascular regions; however, the uptake of radiotracer was the highest in the aorta and femoral arteries. In the skin, the highest uptake was observed in the neck and the axillae. There was no significant association between 18F-NaF deposition in the arteries or skin and the global Phenodex score. In contrast, the Phenodex score was significantly associated in univariate analyses with the averaged vascular calcium score (p < 0.01). In the neck, patients with higher skin Phenodex scores exhibited higher radiotracer uptake. As a conclusion, because vascular calcification is physiological, our data suggested that the detection of cutaneous (neck) 18F-NaF deposits might serve to monitor the calcification process in the short-term for patients with PXE.

Erosion characteristics of loess tunnels on the Loess Plateau: A field investigation and experimental study

AbstractLoess tunnels are a common geo‐hazard in the Loess Plateau and not only cause considerable soil and water loss, but also aggravate and even induce the occurrence and development of other disasters such as ground fissures, mudflows, collapses, and landslides. To date, research on the hydrological characteristics and erosion behaviour of loess tunnel systems has focused on field investigation data and limited river basin observation data, whereas field test information and data are very scarce. In this study, field surveys, observations, field scouring experiments, and laboratory‐based sediment percentage tests were conducted to analyse the erosion characteristics, spatial distribution, and hydrological characteristics of a large‐scale loess tunnel system in the hilly Loess Plateau southeast region of northern China. The results showed that the loess tunnel erosion exhibited periodicity. Tunnel erosion in each period shows a similar erosion process, that is, thin‐layer water flow erosion and lateral expansion, tunnel wall collapse and deposit due to the loss of support from the lateral erosion, and erosion and transport of deposits by water flow. Waterfall erosion, lateral erosion, headward erosion, and the resulting collapses were the main forms of tunnel erosion. Besides this, the base level of erosion significantly affects the erosion characteristics of the loess tunnel. The hydrological characteristics during field scouring experiments exhibited three different stages: a lag effect, attributed to the temporary loss of water velocity in the first stage; small water flow fluctuations in the second stage; and an increase in total seepage loss with increased water injection flow in the third stage. The erosion rate was positively correlated with the flow quantity. The results of this study not only provide valuable reference data for research on the mechanism and velocity of erosion events in loess, but also provide a theoretical basis for the prevention of loess tunnel disasters in engineering construction. © 2020 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Wire\u2009+\u2009Arc Additively Manufactured 2050 Al\u2013Li Alloy Wall Deposits

Aluminum–Lithium (Al–Li) alloy is a topic of great interest owing to its high strength and light weight, but there are only a few applications of Al–Li alloy in wire + arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) process. To identify its feasibility in WAAM process, a special AA2050 Al–Li alloy wire was produced and employed in the production of straight-walled components, using a WAAM system based on variable polarity gas tungsten arc welding (VP-GTAW) process. The influence of post-deposited heat treatment on the microstructure and property of the deposit was investigated using optical micrographs (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), hardness and tensile properties tests. Results revealed that the microstructures of AA2050 aluminum deposits varied with their location layers. The upper layers consisted of fine equiaxed grains, while the bottom layer exhibited a coarse columnar structure. Mechanical properties witnessed a significant improvement after post-deposited heat treatment, with the average micro-hardness reaching 141HV and the ultimate tensile strength exceeding 400 MPa. Fracture morphology exhibited a typical ductile fracture.

Suitability of intravascular imaging for assessment of cerebrovascular diseases.

Arteriosclerosis of the vascular system is associated with many accompanying diseases. Especially cerebral arteriosclerosis is a main risk factor for ischemic strokes. We want to verify the practicability of intravascular imaging like intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography for the assessment of cerebral vessel walls and plaques. We examined 18 Circuli arteriosi willisii postmortem. The data contained 48 plaques from 48 different vessel parts. The samples underwent intravascular and histological imaging to conduct a quantitative assessment of vessel wall parameters (healthy vessel wall, thinnest vessel wall, plaque thickness and vessel diameter) as well as to qualitatively evaluate the healthy vessel wall, fibrotic plaques, calcifications and cholesterol deposits in diseased vessels. The comparison showed statistically significant smaller measurements for thinnest vessel walls, normal vessel walls and vessel diameters in histology than in imaging. No statistically significant difference was reached for plaque diameters. Fibrotic plaques were characterized as hyper-intense with dorsal attenuation and calcifications as hypo-intense with dorsal attenuation in optical coherence tomography. In intravascular ultrasound, fibrotic plaques showed a homogeneous echogenicity without distal attenuation and calcifications were depicted as hyperechoic with dorsal sound shadows. Cholesterol deposits were hyper-intense in optical coherence tomography with strongly attenuated signals and in intravascular ultrasound; the deposits were hyper-intense with almost no attenuation. Both intravascular methods allow for plaque characterization and quantification of plaque diameter in cerebral vessel walls. When compared with histology, a statistically significant bias was obtained for the ex vivo measurements of the normal vessel wall diameters.

Residual Spray for the Control of &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Aedes&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; Vectors in Dengue Outbreak Residential Areas

The incidence of dengue in Malaysia has shown an increasing trend since the year 2000. Vector control is the primary approach for dengue control in Malaysia. There is an urgent need for new or modified approaches such as the residual spraying on the outer walls that can potentially last long enough to control the Aedes population, particularly in the outbreak-prone areas. In this field study, we conducted outdoor residual spraying (ORS) using a newly formulated polymer-enhanced suspension concentrate (SC-PE) of deltamethrin. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the efficacy of ORS using deltamethrin SC-PE and its effect on wild Aedes populations and to assess its residual bio-efficacy on painted cement walls against the pyrethroid-susceptible strains of laboratory-reared Aedes mosquitoes. Three rounds of spraying in a four-month cycle were conducted between 2014 and 2015 in four residential areas (low-rise and high-rise housing types) in Hulu Langat, Selangor. The bio-efficacy of the insecticide was evaluated by assessing its impact on vector population using ovitrap surveillance. Standard WHO wall deposit bioassay was adapted to determine bio-efficacy of deltamethrin, i.e. post 30 min knockdown and post 24 h mortality after exposure. During the treatment period, we observed significant reductions in the population of Ae. albopictus in the sprayed low-rise housing in both semi-indoor and outdoor environments, while in the high-rise housing, there was also a significant decline in Ae. aegypti population in the semi-indoor environment. The evaluation of the residual bio-efficacy of deltamethrin SC-PE against laboratory-reared Aedes mosquitoes showed that the insecticide lasted longer in the high-rise housing compared to the low-rise housing with >80% mortality achieved continuously for 16 weeks. We provide initial evidence on residual efficacy of deltamethrin SC-PE in reducing Aedes population size in the low-rise and high-rise housing. Our results showed that ORS is a promising tool in the dengue vector control and like IRS in malaria control; it is a powerful and effective method if conducted correctly. However, large scale and well-designed studies with entomological and epidemiological endpoints are still warranted before its routine use in dengue control.

β-amyloid wall deposit of temporal artery in subjects with spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage.

BackgroundCerebral Amyloid Angiopathy has been indicated as an important cause of spontaneous non-hypertensive intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH).Aimsto analyze the presence of β-amyloid deposit in the temporal artery of consecutive patients with ICH in comparison to control subjects and its relation to APO-E haplotype frequency.MethodsWe enrolled consecutive patients admitted to Neurosurgery Ward of University Hospital “P. Giaccone” of Palermo with a diagnosis of spontaneous non hypertensive ICH and as control 12 subjects without brain haemorrhage. Biopsy of superficial temporal artery has been performed and β-amyloid deposit was quantified.ResultsAmong 25 subjects with ICH, 10 (40%) had APOE epsilon 2 allele and among these subjects 7 (70%) showed amyloid accumulation on temporal artery specimens, 8 (32%) subjects had APOE epsilon 3 allele and among these subjects only 2 (25%) showed amyloid accumulation on temporal artery specimens, whereas 7 (28%) had APOE epsilon 4 allele and of these, 7 (100%) showed amyloid accumulation on temporal artery specimens. At multivariable logistic regression analysis for the presence of amyloid, predictive factors for the presence of amyloid in temporal artery biopsies were: age, hypertension, intralobar site of haemorrhage, APOE epsilon 2 and APOE epsilon 4 alleles.DiscussionOur findings of a higher frequency of amyloid deposition in temporal artery specimens in subjects with spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage indicate a possible role of temporal artery as a possible diagnostic site of biopsy in subjects at high risk to develop intracranial haemorrhage related to Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy.

Structural and crystal-chemical characteristics of the apatite deposits from human aortic walls.

Thermal behavior of biological apatite is the object of several studies. Crystal size, carbonate content, phase composition, and other parameters change during annealing up to 900 °C in biological minerals with apatite structure. The way these parameters change reflects the specific properties of the initial bioapatite. This work presents data on thermal transformations of pathological bioapatite from the human cardiovascular system, namely aortic wall deposits. Some minor elements, foreign to calcium hydroxyapatite (e.g., Na and Mg), can be both incorporated in the apatite structure and localized in the surface layers of crystals, modifying functions of the mineral. A new approach was proposed to determine the predominant location of minor elements, such as Mg, Na, and K, in the mineral of pathological deposits. Mg and Na in pathological apatite can be in both structurally bound (substituting calcium in lattice) and labile (localized on the crystal surface) states, while K is not able to join the apatite structure in significant amount or be chemically bound to it. This approach, based on atomic spectrometry, can be used effectively in combination with a set of traditional techniques, such as like EDS, IRS, and XRD.

Heterologous mammalian Akt disrupts plasma membrane homeostasis by taking over TORC2 signaling in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The Akt protein kinase is the main transducer of phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate (PtdIns3,4,5P3) signaling in higher eukaryotes, controlling cell growth, motility, proliferation and survival. By co-expression of mammalian class I phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and Akt in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae heterologous model, we previously described an inhibitory effect on yeast growth that relied on Akt kinase activity. Here we report that PI3K-Akt expression in yeast triggers the formation of large plasma membrane (PM) invaginations that were marked by actin patches, enriched in PtdIns4,5P2 and associated to abnormal intracellular cell wall deposits. These effects of Akt were mimicked by overproduction of the PtdIns4,5P2 effector Slm1, an adaptor of the Ypk1 and Ypk2 kinases in the TORC2 pathway. Although Slm1 was phosphorylated in vivo by Akt, TORC2-dependent Ypk1 activation did not occur. However, PI3K-activated Akt suppressed the lethality derived from inactivation of either TORC2 or Ypk protein kinases. Thus, heterologous co-expression of PI3K and Akt in yeast short-circuits PtdIns4,5P2- and TORC2-signaling at the level of the Slm-Ypk complex, overriding some of its functions. Our results underscore the importance of phosphoinositide-dependent kinases as key actors in the homeostasis and dynamics of the PM.

The features in IgA-dominant infection-related glomerulonephritis distinct from IgA nephropathy: a single-center study.

IgA-dominant infection-related glomerulonephritis (IgA-IRGN) is a unique form of IRGN, which needs to be distinguished from IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Thirteen patients with IgA-IRGN (IgA-IRGN group) and 122 with IgAN (IgAN group) were selected from 1788 patients who underwent kidney biopsy between 2000 and 2015 in Kitano Hospital. Data selected included clinical and serological parameters; light and electron microscope findings; immunofluorescence findings; and prognostic parameters like renal and overall survival and creatinine increase by > 50%. In addition, a 26-patient IgAN cohort (matching-IgAN), matching with IgA-IRGN group with respect to age, sex, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and proteinuria was segregated for comparison. Compared to IgAN group, IgA-IRGN group were older, had lower hemoglobin, higher CRP, lower eGFR, heavier proteinuria, lower serum albumin, and higher serum IgG and IgA levels (p < 0.05). Endocapillary hypercellularity, deposition of immune complexes along the glomerular capillary wall, and subendothelial and subepithelial electron dense deposits were more frequently observed (p < 0.05); and they were more susceptible to renal dysfunction and poorer prognosis. After propensity score-matching, serum albumin was significantly lower in the IgA-IRGN group. Significantly subendothelial and subepithelial deposits were frequently observed in this group. Matching-IgAN group showed relatively advanced sclerotic lesions with more global sclerosis and fibrous crescent. Local inflammation involved glomerular capillary wall in IgA-IRGN, in contrast to relatively chronic and sclerotic renal lesion in IgAN, might result in poorer prognosis in former, even under indistinguishable condition of deteriorated renal function and proteinuria.

Cotyledonoid dissecting leiomyoma with intravascular growth pattern and intra-tumoural endometrial glands and stroma: A case report

Cotyledonoid dissecting leiomyoma (CDL) is a rare variant of leiomyoma which shows a dissecting growth pattern of smooth muscle cells within the myometrium, with or without extra-uterine extension, and a macroscopic appearance resembling placenta. We present a unique case of CDL with both intravascular growth and presence of endometrial glands and stroma within the tumour. A 35-year-old female patient presented with menorrhagia. Ultrasound examination revealed a bulky anteverted uterus with a prolapsed submucosal leiomyoma and an intramural leiomyoma. In the interest of preserving fertility, she underwent myomectomy together with laparoscopic resections of the uterine wall deposit and myometrial tissue. The tumour was soft and pink, with a resemblance to placental tissue, and histology demonstrated nodules of neoplastic smooth muscle cells with areas of oedema and myxoid change dissecting into the surrounding myometrial tissue, which is consistent with the features of CDL. Also seen were non-neoplastic endometrial glands cuffed by stroma located within the smooth muscle tumour as well as in the non-neoplastic myometrium. There were foci of intravascular luminal growth confirmed by positive CD31 immunohistochemical staining of the endothelial cells lining the vascular lumina. The present case demonstrates that CDLs may have a unique histological appearance resembling adenomyoma and an intravascular growth pattern. It is important for pathologists, gynaecologists and radiologists to recognize such smooth muscle tumour variants and hence prevent misdiagnosis of malignancy and overtreatment.

Visualization of neuritic plaques in Alzheimer\u2019s disease by polarization-sensitive optical coherence microscopy

One major hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is the deposition of extracellular senile plaques and vessel wall deposits composed of amyloid-beta (Aβ). In AD, degeneration of neurons is preceded by the formation of Aβ plaques, which show different morphological forms. Most of them are birefringent owing to the parallel arrangement of amyloid fibrils. Here, we present polarization sensitive optical coherence microscopy (PS-OCM) for imaging mature neuritic Aβ plaques based on their birefringent properties. Formalin-fixed, post-mortem brain samples of advanced stage AD patients were investigated. In several cortical brain regions, neuritic Aβ plaques were successfully visualized in tomographic and three-dimensional (3D) images. Cortical grey matter appeared polarization preserving, whereas neuritic plaques caused increased phase retardation. Consistent with the results from PS-OCM imaging, the 3D structure of senile Aβ plaques was computationally modelled for different illumination settings and plaque sizes. Furthermore, the birefringent properties of cortical and meningeal vessel walls in CAA were investigated in selected samples. Significantly increased birefringence was found in smaller vessels. Overall, these results provide evidence that PS-OCM is able to assess amyloidosis based on intrinsic birefringent properties.

Agglomeration in counter-current spray drying towers. Part A: Particle growth and the effect of nozzle height

Agglomeration of particles and droplets is critical to the operation of spray dryers, however it remains relatively unexplored. This paper studies the effect of the nozzle height on product properties, wall deposits and dryer conditions in a counter-current spray drying tower of detergent with a swirling air flow. The process efficiency is driven by changes in particle agglomeration. To interpret the results and facilitate the study of swirl towers, it is useful to subdivide these units according to the sources of growth in (a) spray region(s), (b) concentrated near-wall region(s) and (c) wall deposits. The particles formed are very heterogeneous and show a size-dependent composition. In this case, particle properties are driven by the separation of solid and liquid phases during atomization and the formation of a heterogeneous set of droplets. Agglomeration serves to homogenise the product and create a distinct source of porosity. The capacity and energy consumption of the dryer are also determined by the evolution of the particle size, as fine powder is elutriated from the tower top and coarse particles are removed from the product. When the nozzle is moved to lower positions in the tower the increased temperature near the spray suppresses agglomeration, however the residence time is shortened and ultimately it leads to creation of wet, coarse granules. An optimum location is found high enough to maintain the drying efficiency but sufficiently far from the top exit to minimise the loss of fine particles. In this way, a capacity ratio (i.e. product vs spray dried powder) C>90% can be obtained and energy efficiency maximised.