Penetration of Dissected Membrane for False Lumen Embolization in a Case of Chronic Aortic Dissection

Background: Patent false lumens carry a high risk of aortic events including rupture. False lumen embolization is a useful method to promote thrombosis of false lumen. In the case presented here, direct penetration of the dissected membrane was employed to obtain access to the false lumen, enabling embolization. Case report: The case was a 64-year-old female who developed a Stanford type A acute aortic dissection. Replacement of ascending aorta and aortic arch with frozen elephant trunk technique was performed. After the operation, there was a residual flow through the false lumen in the descending thoracic and abdominal aorta. Twenty months later, the patient complained of sudden back pain, and a CT scan demonstrated another new dissection at the distal edge of the open stent. Additionally, the false lumen that had remained since the onset of the type A aortic dissection enlarged during the observation period. An endovascular procedure was planned to exclude the false lumen. Despite closing all communicating channels between true and false lumen using a vascular plug, coils, and stent grafts, the false lumen continued to expand due to the residual flow at the visceral segment. The origin responsible for the flow was not identified. To perform an embolization of the false lumen, access into the false lumen was obtained by penetration of the dissected flap using a trans-septal needle. Following the successful penetration of the flap, embolization of the false lumen was performed using coils and glue. After the embolization, an angiogram of the false lumen confirmed the significant reduction of leakage into the true lumen. The size of the aorta and false lumen decreased after the embolization. Conclusion: Direct penetration of the dissected membrane of the aorta was a safe and useful measure for regaining access to the false lumen and for the following endovascular intervention.

Diplodia seriata (grapevine trunk disease).

Diplodia seriata is a cosmopolitan and plurivorous fungal species occurring on woody hosts belonging to many plant genera and families (Punithalingam and Waller, 1973; Phillips et al., 2007; Slippers et al., 2007). The fungus is encountered in many habitats, but has a primarily temperate distribution and is present on most continents. D. seriata causes canker, dieback, fruit rot and leaf spot diseases on economically important forest and horticultural species (Farr and Rossman, 2020). Reports of the virulence of this pathogen vary depending upon the crop, varieties and hosts involved and it is often regarded as a stress-related pathogen taking advantage of weak or stressed plants. In common with other members of the Botryosphaeriaceae, D. seriata is capable of living endophytically inside plants (Crous et al., 2006; Slippers and Wingfield, 2007) and latent infections of fruits can result in storage rots. The pathogen is dispersed through both pycnidia and ascospores with conidia regarded as the most important inoculum source for short-distance spread. Infection is through wounds, natural openings, or direct penetration of the host tissue. There is no evidence that this species is seedborne although some members of the Botryosphaeriaceae have been shown to be present in seeds (Gure et al., 2005). The extensive host range of this species means that it is more likely to become established in new areas, as establishment will not depend on the presence of specific hosts. The widespread distribution of this species is presumably as a result of the word-wide movement agricultural, forestry and ornamental plants.

Diplodia seriata (grapevine trunk disease).

Diplodia seriata is a cosmopolitan and plurivorous fungal species occurring on woody hosts belonging to many plant genera and families (Punithalingam and Waller, 1973; Phillips et al., 2007; Slippers et al., 2007). The fungus is encountered in many habitats, but has a primarily temperate distribution and is present on most continents.D. seriata causes canker, dieback, fruit rot and leaf spot diseases on economically important forest and horticultural species (Farr and Rossman, 2020). Reports of the virulence of this pathogen vary depending upon the crop, varieties and hosts involved and it is often regarded as a stress-related pathogen taking advantage of weak or stressed plants. In common with other members of the Botryosphaeriaceae, D. seriata is capable of living endophytically inside plants (Crous et al., 2006; Slippers and Wingfield, 2007) and latent infections of fruits can result in storage rots. The pathogen is dispersed through both pycnidia and ascospores with conidia regarded as the most important inoculum source for short-distance spread. Infection is through wounds, natural openings, or direct penetration of the host tissue. There is no evidence that this species is seedborne although some members of the Botryosphaeriaceae have been shown to be present in seeds (Gure et al., 2005). The extensive host range of this species means that it is more likely to become established in new areas, as establishment will not depend on the presence of specific hosts. The widespread distribution of this species is presumably as a result of the word-wide movement agricultural, forestry and ornamental plants.

Development of a direct penetrating signal compensator in a distributed reception channel of a surveillance radar

General structure of a compensator of a direct penetrating signal in the diversed reception channel was developed. It is advisable to use the antenna and the receiver of the auxiliary diverted reception channel as an auxiliary antenna and an auxiliary channel. To be able to suppress the penetrating signal in the band of the receiving device of the surveillance radar, distance between the antennas should be up to 6 m. In general, the compensator of the penetrating signals should contain an adder in which the signals received by the main channel are added with the signals received by the auxiliary channel and sent through the amplifier with a corresponding complex transmission coefficient. The direct penetration signal compensator features the obligatory condition of adjusting the value of the complex transmission coefficient of the auxiliary channel signal amplifier. The direct penetration signal compensator is digital and uses the direct method of forming weighting coefficients without the use of feedback. To reduce the time of formation of weighting coefficients when using direct methods of calculation of the correlation matrix, the technology of parallel computational processes was used. The quality of operation of the direct penetrating signal suppression system in the diverted reception channel was evaluated. It was established that without the use of suppression of direct penetrating signals, their powerful response at the output of the matched filter mask weak echo signals. When using a direct penetrating signal in the main channel of the compensator, its response at the output of the matched filter is significantly reduced. This makes it possible to observe weak echoes against the background of a strong penetrating signal. The use of the developed direct penetrating signal compensator provides suppression of the direct penetrating signal from 57 dB to 70 dB

Իսլամական արմատականությունը Վրաստանում. նոր միտումներ և մարտահրավերներ

The purpose of the paper is to study the main features and tendencies of Salafi Islam and Islamic radicalism in Georgia, to identify the threats and challenges facing Georgia as well as the region. The objectives of the article are to discuss the internal and external motives and impulses, preconditions and consequences of the spread of Sunni radical Islam in the Muslim communities of Georgia, the issues of their integration into the Georgian society, the causes and consequences of the propaganda of Salafism and Sunni Islamic radicalismamong the ethnic Shi’i Azerbaijanis of Georgia. The paper was written on the basis of monitoring of the international press and materials on this topic, an extensive study of professional literature on various sides of Radical Islam in Georgia. In the course of the study, the authors concluded that the spreed of Salafism and radical Islam in Georgia poses a serious threat not only to Georgia, but also to the security environment of the region. The Georgian authorities are losing real control over Adjara, gradually "handing it over" to Turkey. Therefore, a "platform of radicalism" can be formed here with the possibility of direct penetration into the surrounding areas. Adjara, which is actively used by various Turkish Islamic organizations, may also become a "hotbed of terrorism" against Armenia in the event of certain developments. The spread of radical Sunni Islamic ideology in the Azerbaijani-populated regions of Georgia is leading to the retreat of traditional Shi’i Islam. This phenomenon, of course, affects not only the religious map of the region, but also changes the existing geopolitical balance of power. Turkey, using its Islamic tools, is consistently pushing Iran out of Georgia's ethnic Azerbaijani-populated regions, squeezing the circle of Islamic radicalism around Armenia.

The Battle for the douars and the djemâa Elections of 1947

The nationalist mobilization of peasants in the Chelif market centres (Chapter 8) went in parallel with the first steps to extend anti-colonial organization directly into the mountainous interior and to form peasant-led cells. Contestation centred, in particular, on the election of the djemâas which allowed delegates to be elected on party lists, a political counter-weight to the caids and commune mixte apparatus. A number of case-studies of such direct penetration into the interior are investigated for the douars north and south of Duperré, to the east of Ténès, and near Cherchell, to track the process of radicalization, and the preparation of rural networks that later became the basis of the early guerrilla movement. The 1947 election marked an important watershed since the unexpected success of the communist and Messalist advance among the peasantry met with a ferocious response from the new governor Naegelin in early 1948, and a wave of police repression, arrests, electoral fraud, and annulling of electoral gains. This ensured the continuation of the moribund commune mixte system, with fatal long-term consequences for the intelligence state, while both communists and nationalists abandoned a peaceful route to independence by preparing for armed insurrection.

Deciphering the Roles of Interspace and Controlled Disorder in the Bactericidal Properties of Nanopatterns against Staphylococcus aureus

Recent progress in nano-/micro-fabrication techniques has paved the way for the emergence of synthetic bactericidal patterned surfaces that are capable of killing the bacteria via mechanical mechanisms. Different design parameters are known to affect the bactericidal activity of nanopatterns. Evaluating the effects of each parameter, isolated from the others, requires systematic studies. Here, we systematically assessed the effects of the interspacing and disordered arrangement of nanopillars on the bactericidal properties of nanopatterned surfaces. Electron beam induced deposition (EBID) was used to additively manufacture nanopatterns with precisely controlled dimensions (i.e., a height of 190 nm, a diameter of 80 nm, and interspaces of 100, 170, 300, and 500 nm) as well as disordered versions of them. The killing efficiency of the nanopatterns against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus bacteria increased by decreasing the interspace, achieving the highest efficiency of 62 ± 23% on the nanopatterns with 100 nm interspacing. By comparison, the disordered nanopatterns did not influence the killing efficiency significantly, as compared to their ordered correspondents. Direct penetration of nanopatterns into the bacterial cell wall was identified as the killing mechanism according to cross-sectional views, which is consistent with previous studies. The findings indicate that future studies aimed at optimizing the design of nanopatterns should focus on the interspacing as an important parameter affecting the bactericidal properties. In combination with controlled disorder, nanopatterns with contrary effects on bacterial and mammalian cells may be developed.

Sec17 (α-SNAP) and an SM-tethering complex control the outcome of SNARE zippering in vitro and in vivo

Zippering of SNARE complexes spanning docked membranes is essential for most intracellular fusion events. Here we explore how SNARE regulators operate on discrete zippering states. The formation of a metastable trans-complex, catalyzed by HOPS and its SM subunit Vps33, is followed by subsequent zippering transitions that increase the probability of fusion. Operating independently of Sec18 catalysis, Sec17 either inhibits or stimulates SNARE-mediated fusion. If HOPS or Vps33 are absent, Sec17 inhibits fusion at an early stage. Thus, HOPS and Vps33 accelerate SNARE zippering, particularly in the presence of otherwise inhibitory Sec17. Once SNAREs are partially-zipped, Sec17 promotes fusion in either the presence or absence of HOPS — but with faster kinetics when HOPS is absent. Our data further indicate that Sec17 promotes fusion both through its direct penetration of the membrane and by enhancing C-terminal SNARE zippering. In a working model, the interplay among Sec17, Sec18, SMs, and SNARE zippering can explain why SM proteins are indispensable for SNARE-mediated fusion in vivo.Impact statementSec17 is shown to have divergent effects on pre-fusion SNARE complex activity, depending on the state of SNARE zippering. HOPS, an SM-tether complex, controls the outcome of Sec17-SNARE engagement. The results suggest a coherent working model for SM activity in vivo.