Characterization of the MISG soot generator with an atmospheric simulation chamber

The performance of a Mini-Inverted Soot Generator (MISG) has been investigated at ChAMBRe (Chamber for Aerosol Modelling and Bio-aerosol Research) by studying the properties of soot particles generated by ethylene and propane combustion. Starting from an extensive classification of combustion conditions and resulting flame shapes, the MISG exhaust was characterized in terms of concentration of emitted particles and gases, particle size distribution and optical properties. Soot particles were also collected on quartz fibre filters and then analysed by optical and thermal-optical techniques, to measure the spectral dependence of the absorption coefficient b_abs, and their composition in terms of Elemental and Organic Carbon (EC and OC). Significant differences could be observed when the MISG is fuelled with ethylene and propane both in terms of particle size and optical behaviour (i.e., absorption coefficient). Values of the Mass Absorption Coefficient (MAC) and of the Angstrom Absorption Exponent (AAE) turned out to be compatible with the literature, even if with some specific difference. The comprehensive characterization of the MISG soot particles is an important piece of information to design and perform experiments in atmospheric simulation chambers.

Comparison of real time PCR and conventional PCR by identifying genomic DNA of bovine and porcine

Bovine and porcine are poultry meat that consumed worldwide particularly in Southeast Asia.Both of them are prone to food counterfeit owing to several factors such as price, appetite and Halal status. Sensitive and selective analytical methods are required to control meat products that distributed to markets. This paper studied the sensitivity between real – time and conventional PCR or known as qPCR and cPCR, respectively. Bovine and porcine were samples used to verify the sensitivity of them. Nevertheless, those instruments did not show a specific difference during DNA analysis of bovine and porcine. In conventional PCR, two pairs of DNA primers targeted cytochrome b (Cyt b) was analyzed, resulting of 120 and 131 amplicons, respectively. While qPCR applied to analyze porcine and bovine DNA. The detection limit of qPCR after porcine and bovine analysis were at 0.004 and 0.007 µg/µL, respectively. Results demonstrated the qPCR was reliable for verifying porcine and bovine DNA compared to conventional PCR. Furthermore, the study concluded that the developed assay can be easily employed for the identification of porcine and bovine tissue in food products in low resource areas.

Gender-specific difference in the recurrence of flexion contracture after total knee arthroplasty

Background Range of motion after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) can impact patients’ daily lives. Nevertheless, flexion contracture (FC) often recurs after TKA, even upon achieving full extension intraoperatively. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship among preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative knee extension angles, and clarify the risk factor for postoperative FC. Methods One hundred forty-seven knees undergoing TKA using a navigation system were evaluated. We measured the pre- and postoperative (6 months after TKA) extension angles using a goniometer, and intraoperative (before and after TKA) extension angle using a navigation system; the correlation between these angles at each time point was evaluated. Results The mean preoperative, intraoperative (before and after TKA) and postoperative extension angles were -9.9°, -6.8°, -0.1°, and -2.0°. Regarding intraoperative extension angle after TKA, 58 knees showed ≤ 5° hyperextension and six knees showed > 5° hyperextension. At 6 months, no cases showed hyperextension and 105 knees showed full extension. The mean intraoperative extension angle after TKA in the postoperative full extension group was 0.4°. A significant correlation was found among extension angles at each point (p<0.01, respectively). However, the intraoperative extension angle after TKA correlated with the postoperative extension angle only in females. Contrarily, the recurrence rate of FC was significantly higher in males than in females (p<0.01). Conclusion Intraoperative extension angles significantly correlated with pre- and postoperative extension angles in TKA. Moreover, intraoperative mild (≤ 5°) hyperextension is acceptable for postoperative full extension. There was a gender-specific difference in correlation between intra- and postoperative knee extension angles. Level of evidence III.

Sex-specific Difference in Phenotype of Kabuki Syndrome Type 2 Patients: A Matched Case-Control Study

Background: Kabuki syndrome (KS) is a monogenic disorder leading to special facial features, mental retardation, and multiple system malformations. KDM6A (MIM*300128) is the pathogenic gene of Kabuki syndrome type 2 (KS2, MIM#300867), which accounts for only 5%–8% of KS. Previous studies suggested that female patients with KS2 may have a milder phenotype. Thus, we summarized the phenotype and genotype of KS2 patients who were diagnosed in Shanghai Children’s Medical Center since July 2017 and conducted a 1:3 matched case-control study according to age and sex to investigate sex-specific differences between patients with and without KS2. Results There were 12 KS2 cases in this study, and 8 of them matched with 24 controls. The intelligence quotient (IQ) score of the case group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P <0.001). In addition, both the incidence of intellectual disability (ID) (IQ <70) and moderate-to-severe ID (IQ <55) were significantly higher in the case group than those in the control group (P <0.05). No sex-specific difference was found in the incidence of ID or moderate-to-severe ID between the female cases and female controls (P>0.05), whereas there was a significant difference between male cases and male controls (P <0.01). Furthermore, the rate of moderate-to-severe ID and congenital heart disease (CHD) was significantly higher in the male group than that in the female group (P <0.05).Conclusions Our results showed that a sex-specific difference was exhibited in the clinical phenotypes of KS2 patients. The incidence of CHD was higher in male patients, and mental retardation was significantly impaired. However, the female patients’ phenotype was mild.

P–137 Male embryos take longer to develop to the blastocysts stage

Study question Are there any differences in developmental timings between male and female preimplantation embryos? Summary answer There is a tendency for statistical difference in the time to reach blastocyst stage for male embryos compared to female embryos What is known already Differences in gene expression and metabolic uptake between male and female preimplantation embryos have been found in animal models and humans. These differences could affect the developmental timings of embryos resulting in differences in either sex. Morphokinetic parameters can precisely assess developmental timings. Only a few studies have analyzed morphokinetic parameters between male and female preimplantation embryos and no consensus has been reached on whether there is any sex-specific difference. The objective of this study is to compare morphokinetic parameters between male and female preimplantation embryos to determine any sex-specific developmental differences. Study design, size, duration This is a retrospective study including 102 preimplantation embryos from February 2018 to February 2020. The morphokinetic parameters obtained from time-lapse records of each embryo were: time to pronuclear fading (tPNf), times to 2–8 cells (t2, t3, t4, t5, t6, t7, t8), time to start of blastulation (tSB) and time to full blastocyst stage (tB). A two-tailed Student’s t-test was used to compare morphokinetic parameters between embryo sexes. A p &lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Participants/materials, setting, methods The study included retrospective time-lapse data from preimplantation embryos giving rise to 51 baby boys and 51 baby girls, as seen at birth. This is a single-center study with standardized culture conditions. Embryos in both study groups issued from cycles with donated oocytes. Only elective blastocyst stage single-embryo transfers (SET) on day 5 were assessed. Main results and the role of chance A tendency to statistical difference (p = [0.1–0.05]) was observed for blastocyst-related morphokinetic parameters: tSB (mean time was 89.6±6.3 hours in male embryos vs. 86.9±8.1 hours in female embryos, p = 0.06) and tB (100.2±5.9 hours versus 97.9±6.5 hours, p = 0.07). Male embryos showed an increased average time of 2.7 hours to tSB and 2.3 hours to tB, while no differences were found in the mean times of all the other morphokinetic paraments measured (p &gt; 0.50): tPNf (∼21.8±3.0 hours) t2 (∼24.4±3.2 hours); t3 (∼35.6±3.9 hours); t4 (∼36.6±4.6 hours); t5 (∼46.9±6.0 hours); t6 (∼53.5±7.0 hours); t7 (∼54.1±7.3 hours) and t8 (∼54.1±7.3 hours). This finding suggests a sex-specific difference in reaching blastocyst stages. Limitations, reasons for caution The main limitation of the study is its retrospective nature and the small sample size. We analyzed the data of embryos leading to a live birth (high-quality embryos), therefore, caution should be made when generalizing results to non-implanting embryos (of potentially lower quality). Wider implications of the findings: Sex-specific differences in developmental timings of preimplantation embryos at blastocyst stage, as evidenced by time-lapse data, should be considered to avoid selection biases during embryo transfers in ART clinic. Trial registration number Not applicable

„Staunest Fremdling / Diese Stein an?“ Das Außen des Innen in Tourismus und Idylle

This article examines the structural analogy between the literary idyll and tourism that lies in the specific difference between idyllic and touristic spaces on the one hand and those of a modern, functionally differentiated, and rational everyday life on the other. The peak in the production of literary idylls as well as the onset of tourism in the late 18th and early 19th century can thus be conceptualized as a reaction to experiences of alienation due to emerging processes of modernization. An analysis of Goethe’s Der Wandrer shows however how literary idylls not only helped to shape the tourist gaze, but also reflected on the touristic and idyllic experience as an experience between foreignness, alienation and belonging.

Subtitling Calligraphy

This essay examines a regional, not global, dimension of Chinese cinema: the Chinese character in its brushed form. Calligraphy and cinema have an intimate relationship in East Asia. Indeed, the ubiquity of the brushed word in cinema is one element that actually ties works in Korean, Japanese and Sinophone Asia together as a regional cinema. At the same time, I will explore the very specific difference of Chinese filmmakers’ use of written language. On first glance, cinema and calligraphy would appear as radically different art forms. On second glance, they present themselves as sister arts. Both are art forms built from records of the human body moving in (an absent) time and space. The essay ends with a consideration of subtitling, upon which Chinese cinema’s global dimension is predicated. How does investigating this very problem lead us to rethinking the nature of the cinematic subtitle, which is very much alive―a truly movable type?

Gender differences in the dimensions of tricuspid valve orifice and leaflets in the Bangladeshi population - a morphometric study

Background: The present study aims to measure the circumference, length, and breadth of thedifferent leaflets of the tricuspid valve orifice in men and women to enable improved treatmentand management for cardiac patients in future. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectionalstudy, samples of the cadaveric heart (41 male, 19 female, and age ranging between 20 and70 years) were collected within 12–24 hours of death from unclaimed dead bodies that wereautopsied in the morgues of Sir Salimullah Medical College (SSMC) and Dhaka Medical College(DMC), Dhaka, Bangladesh. Unpaired t-test was conducted to determine significant genderdifferences using SPSS 16. Results: There were no significant difference in the circumference,length, and breadth of the anterior, posterior, and septal leaflets of tricuspid valves between menand women. Conclusion :The circumference, length, and breadth of the anterior, posterior,and septal leaflets of tricuspid valves are similar between men and women in the Bangladeshipopulation. Therefore, there will be no specific difference in the surgical and therapeutictreatment for men and women. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.20(2) 2021 p.342-347