Histochemical features of the structure of fetal ovaries in different stages of gestation from mothers with physiological pregnancy

In the following article specific hystochemical features of the fetal ovaries’ structure from mothers with the physiological pregnancy are considered. All fetals were divided into subgroups by taking into consideration the term of gestation, as well as main stages of fetal gonads’ formation and laying. Namely: 21-28 weeks, 29-36 weeks, 37-40 weeks. All fetuses had died intranatally, as a result of acute uterine-placental circulation. The course of pregnancy in all cases was psychological, according to appropriate medical documentation. In the aim of reaching the scientific goal the following research methods were used: macroscopic, organometric, histological, histochemichal, morphometric, statistical. The comprehensive study has revealed the following features of the ovaries’ structure, depending on gestational term: weight, length, thickness, width and volume of the ovaries were reaching their minimum levels in case of fetuses with a gestational age of 21-28 weeks, while the maximum one was reached in case of fetuses on 37-42 weeks of gestation. All gonads are represented by cortical and cerebral matter, with the constant ratio despite of different gestational term. According to the growth of pregnancy term the number of germ cells decreases, while the number of apoptotically altered forms oppositely increases. Primarily it is because of the psychological cells’ death during ovarian formation.The follicular component at all stages of gestation is represented by primordial and primary follicles; at the 37-40 weeks though the atretic forms and cystically altered specimens are appearing. Moreover, in accordance with the growth of the pregnancy term, the number of primordial follicles decreases, while oppositely, the number of primary ones increases. The aforementioned changes lead to the decrease in the relative volume of follicular tissue and to the increase of the relative volume of the interstitial component. By the following histochemical methods (Felgen-Rossenbeck reaction, Brache reaction, Schiff-reaction) an increase in the functional activity of the fetal ovaries was revealed, by reaching its maximum point during gestation of the 37-40 weeks. The aforementioned features correspond with gestational terms as well as with stages of the ovarian development of the fetus. That is why they could be used as a control group during leading a research on characteristical features of fetal gonads structure of fetuses from mothers with complicated pregnancies.

Prognostic value of the ultrasonic determination of the degree of interstitial edema in patients with intermediate ejection fraction of the left ventricle after treating acute decompensation of heart failure

Aim To study ultrasonic characteristics of lung tissue in patients with heart failure with left ventricular (LV) mid-range ejection fraction (HFmEF) and predictive value of these characteristics after reversing acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF).Material and methods Ultrasonic characteristics of lung tissue were studied by prospective observation in 71 patients (mean age, 65.2±3.6 years; men, 64.3 %) with HFmEF (LVEF from 40 to 49 %) following ADHF reversal. Semiquantitative evaluation of B-lines was performed by the E. Picano (2016) method at 5+2 days after hospitalization and on discharge from the hospital. The distance between B-lines was 3 mm (В3 lines) and 7 mm (В7 lines). Patients’ catamnesis was studied for determining the predictive value of lung tissue ultrasonic characteristics for two years since the index hospitalization. Statistical analysis was performed using the McNemar’s χ2 test (for evaluation of linked samples and of changes in the presence/absence of B-lines as determined by lung ultrasound examination (USE)) and the Wilcoxon test (for evaluation of quantitative changes). Differences were considered significant at p<0.05.Results B7-lines characteristic of interstitial component of pulmonary parenchymal edema prevailed in patients with HFmEF. В3-lines characteristic of alveolar edema were found in a small amount. In the anterior-superior segment, B7-lines predominated over B3-lines (80 % vs. 20 %, p<0.01) on the right; however, on the lest, significant differences were not observed (64 % vs. 36 %, p>0.05). In the anterior-inferior segment, В7-lines prevailed over В3-lines on the right (75 % vs. 25 %, p<0.05); however, on the left, the difference was not significant (67 % vs. 33 %, p=0.05). In the lateral superior segment on the right, В7-lines predominated over В3-lines (75 % vs. 25 %, p<0.01); in contrast, on the left, there were no differences (67 % vs. 33 %, p>0.05). In lateral-basal segments on both sides, significant differences were present (73 % vs. 27 % on the right, p<0.05; 72 % vs. 28 % on the lest, p<0.05). The results of lung ultrasound were also used for evaluation of the B-line predictive value in patients with ADHF and mid-range EF on discharge from the hospital after reversal of X-ray and clinical symptoms of pulmonary congestion. In the next two years, 35 patients (49.2 % of sample) were rehospitalized with signs of ADHF (39 hospitalizations, 1.1 hospitalizations per patient). The rehospitalized patients were divided into two subgroups, with an increased number of B-lines and small congestion on discharge (6–15 В-lines) and without signs of congestion (<5 В-lines). For patients with a minimal (small) congestion on pulmonary ultrasound but regression of clinical and X-ray congestion, the number of rehospitalizations was 25 vs. 11 in patients with the number of B7-lines <5. In the ROC-analysis, the area under the curve was 0.706, which corresponded to the expert assessment as “good”. The position sensitivity was 78.6 % and the specificity was 79.7 %.Conclusion “Ultrasonic pulmonary edema syndrome” in patients with LV mid-range ejection fraction after reversing ADHF was characterized by predomination of the interstitial component, despite the absence of X-ray congestion, correlated with the blood level of NT-proBNP measured at the same time, and was associated with rehospitalizations.

Approach for Determination of Maximum Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement Content in Polymer-Modified Asphalt Mixture

Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), commonly generated from the millings of damaged roads, contains recyclable asphalt and aggregate. Polymer-modified asphalt (PMA) binders have had proven success in mitigating rutting and cracking in asphalt pavements. However, benefits associated with PMA binder may be reduced by aged and more brittle RAP binder. Currently, the maximum usage of RAP in PMA mixture is limited to 10–20% by several Departments of Transportation in the United States. Other than maximum RAP content, no criterion related to RAP characteristics is used to limit RAP usage in PMA mixture. Recent studies showed RAP binder stiffness and RAP aggregate gradation appeared to be important characteristics related to cracking performance of PMA mixture containing RAP. Therefore, this research focused on determining maximum allowable RAP content in PMA mixture for individual RAP sources based on key RAP characteristics identified, that is, RAP stiffness and RAP fineness. Interstitial component direct tension (ICDT) test was conducted to determine fracture energy for interstitial component (i.e., the fine portion of PMA mixture containing RAP), which is known to be correlated well with the fracture energy of the corresponding mixture. Results showed introduction of coarser and less stiff RAP generally resulted in greater fracture energy, which allowed up to 40% RAP usage in PMA mixture. Integration of key RAP characteristics identified and the results of ICDT test provide a systematic approach for determination of maximum RAP content in PMA mixtures. Further research is recommended to evaluate additional RAP sources to verify the proposed approach.

Effectiveness of dominant aggregate size range – interstitial component criteria for consistently enhanced cracking performance of asphalt mixtures in the field

This study primarily focused on evaluating the effectiveness of dominant aggregate size range – interstitial component (DASR-IC) criteria established for the purpose of asphalt mixture design and construction specifications leading to better and consistently enhanced field cracking performance using the enhanced hot-mix asphalt fracture mechanics-based performance prediction model (HMA-FM-E model) plus field performance evaluation. Results indicated that the mixtures meeting all DASR-IC criteria, including DASR porosity, disruption factor (DF), effective film thickness (EFT), and fine aggregate ratio (FAR), will have relatively better and consistently enhanced field cracking performance. The mixtures not meeting all DASR-IC criteria show inconsistent field cracking performance, including either cracked or uncracked status. Thereby, it is important to design asphalt mixtures that meet all DASR-IC criteria. The DASR-IC criteria were found to be effective and their implementation will help ensure consistently enhanced cracking performance in the field.

The extension of the western limb, Bushveld Complex (South Africa), at Cullinan Diamond Mine

Mafic rocks of the Bushveld Complex at the southeastern end of the western limb, intersected in bore core from the Cullinan Diamond Mine, are described. A 260 m thick ultramafic body of orthopyroxene and chromite cumulate rocks, with mg# – 100*Mg/(Mg+Fe) – values from 77 to 84 and 0.25 to 0.5% Cr2O3 in the pyroxene, is considered to have affinity to the Critical Zone. Such an interpretation considerably extends the eastern limit of Critical Zone rocks of the western limb of the Bushveld Complex. The whole-rock composition of the lower, chilled basal contact of this body has 10% MgO and 500 ppm Cr, and is comparable to magmas considered parental to the Bushveld Complex. Due to intrusion of a younger sill, the upper contact is not preserved in the bore core. The cumulate rocks have higher interstitial component, inferred from incompatible trace element abundances (Zr, Ti and K), than normal Critical Zone rocks, interpreted to be a result of more rapid cooling due to proximity to the basal contact. The near-constancy of mg# in the pyroxene in the entire succession suggests that large volumes of magma flowed through this conduit, with only the liquidus phases of orthopyroxene and chromite being precipitated.Five generations of sills, intruded into the underlying metasedimentary rocks, are identified. The oldest is tholeiitic, and was metamorphosed prior to the emplacement of the Bushveld Complex. The second equates to the magma proposed as being parental to the Bushveld Complex (2060 Ma). The third represents the products of differentiation of that magma. The fourth is syenitic, and related to the Pienaars River Alkaline Complex (1430–1300 Ma). The fifth is tholeiitic (1150 Ma), and cuts the Cullinan kimberlite.