Remote temperature-set-point controller

DOEpatents

Burke, William F.; Winiecki, Alan L.

1986-01-01

An instrument for carrying out mechanical strain tests on metallic samples with the addition of an electrical system for varying the temperature with strain, the instrument including opposing arms and associated equipment for holding a sample and varying the mechanical strain on the sample through a plurality of cycles of increasing and decreasing strain within predetermined limits, circuitry for producing an output signal representative of the strain during the tests, apparatus including a set point and a coil about the sample for providing a controlled temperature in the sample, and circuitry interconnected between the strain output signal and set point for varying the temperature of the sample linearly with strain during the tests.

The effect of Cinnamomum zeylanicum essential oil on chemical characteristics of Lyoner- type sausage during refrigerated storage

PubMed Central

Aminzare, Majid; Aliakbarlu, Javad; Tajik, Hossein

2015-01-01

The effect of Cinnamomum zeylanicum essential oil (CZEO) at two concentrations (0.02% and 0.04% v/w) on chemical composition, pH, water activity (aw), lipid oxidation, color stability and sensory characteristics of Lyoner-type sausage stored at 4 ˚C for 40 days was investigated. The moisture content of the control sample was higher (p < 0.05) than CZEO incorporated samples, while fat, ash and protein content were not affected by adding essential oil. At days 0 and 40, Lightness (L*) and whiteness index (WI) were significantly decreased and total color difference (ΔE) significantly increased (p < 0.05) by adding CZEO. With the exception of first day of storage, redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) were significantly increased and decreased, respectively during the rest of storage (p < 0.05). The pH values were not differing between the control samples and samples containing CZEO (p > 0.05). The water activity content fell in Lyoners with added CZEO during the storage. Incorporation of CZEO retard lipid oxidation process at the end of storage (p < 0.05). Samples containing highest amount of CZEO had higher sensory score compared to control sample. Our results pointed out that CZEO could be used as natural additive for increasing the chemical stability of Lyoner-type sausages. PMID:25992249

Increased oxidative/nitrosative stress and decreased antioxidant enzyme activities in prostate cancer.

PubMed

Arsova-Sarafinovska, Zorica; Eken, Ayse; Matevska, Nadica; Erdem, Onur; Sayal, Ahmet; Savaser, Ayhan; Banev, Saso; Petrovski, Daniel; Dzikova, Sonja; Georgiev, Vladimir; Sikole, Aleksandar; Ozgök, Yaşar; Suturkova, Ljubica; Dimovski, Aleksandar J; Aydin, Ahmet

2009-08-01

The study was aimed to evaluate the oxidative/nitrosative stress status in prostate cancer (CaP) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). 312 men from two different populations were included: 163 men from Macedonia (73 CaP patients, 67 BPH patients and 23 control subjects) and 149 men from Turkey (34 prostate cancer patients, 100 BPH patients and 15 control subjects). We measured erythrocyte malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, erythrocyte activities of superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and catalase (CAT); plasma nitrite/nitrate (NO(2)(-)/NO(3)(-)), cGMP and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels. A similar pattern of alteration in the oxidative/nitrosative stress-related parameters was found in both, Macedonian and Turkish studied samples: higher MDA concentrations with lower GPX and CuZn-SOD activities in CaP patients versus controls and BPH groups. The CAT activity was decreased in the CaP patients versus controls in the Turkish studied sample. Furthermore, CaP patients had increased plasma NO(2)(-)/NO(3)(-) and cGMP levels versus controls and BPH groups in both studied samples. This study has confirmed an imbalance in the oxidative stress/antioxidant status and revealed an altered nitrosative status in prostate cancer patients.

A Preliminary Research into Clinical Semi-permeability Tolerance in the Field of Dental Rehabilitation

PubMed Central

Xia, H; Xiong, F

2015-01-01

ABSTRACT Objective: To study clinical semi-permeability tolerance level in the field of dental restoration. Method: Vita 95 enamel porcelain powder was adopted and 6.0% used as the control transmissivity. Discoid porcelain plates with different transmissivity, namely increasing transmissivity (0.25%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, 3%, 3.5%, 4% and 4.5%) and decreasing transmissivity (-0.25%, −0.5%, −1.0%, −1.5%, −2%, −2.5%, −3% and −3.5%) were made. Forty observers judged these according to six grades: same, similar, slightly different, visibly different, recognizable and significantly different, and under the observation conditions of a neutral grey background and 45°/0° lighting. The judgment results were analysed statistically. Results: When the transmissivity of the control porcelain plates was 6.032%, and the transmissivity of test porcelain plates decreased by 1% or increased by 3%, observers could find slight differences between the test samples and the control samples. When transmissivity of test samples decreased by 2.5% or increased by 4.5%, observers thought that the two porcelain plates belonged to different orders of magnitude. Conclusions: Under the experimental conditions, the upper and lower limits of clinical semi-permeability tolerance were 3% and 1%, respectively. PMID:27400057

Effect of chitosan coatings enriched with cinnamon oil on proximate composition of rainbow trout fillets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yıldız, Pınar Oǧuzhan

2017-04-01

The effects of chitosan coating enriched with cinnamon oil on proximate composition of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) during storage at 4°C was investigated. The treatments included the following: C1 (control samples), C2 (chitosan coating) and C3 (chitosan + 1 % [v/w] cinnamon EO added). The control and the coated fish samples were analysed for chemical (moisture, protein, lipid and ash) composition. The mean of moisture, protein, lipid and ash in the control samples (C1) were 70.3%, 20.1%, 2.6% and 1.2%, in coated samples (C2) 69.70%, 24.21%, 2.4% and 2.2% and coated+cinnamon oil samples (C3) 69.70%, 25.05%, 2.5% and 2.2%, respectively. Moisture and lipid contents in control groups were higher than other groups, but protein and ash contents were lower. Significant increases (p<0.05) in protein content were observed between samples, which subsequently decreased the moisture content of these samples.

Decreased Bacterial Diversity Characterizes an Altered Gut Microbiota in Psoriatic Arthritis and Resembles Dysbiosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

PubMed Central

Scher, Jose U.; Ubeda, Carles; Artacho, Alejandro; Attur, Mukundan; Isaac, Sandrine; Reddy, Soumya M.; Marmon, Shoshana; Neimann, Andrea; Brusca, Samuel; Patel, Tejas; Manasson, Julia; Pamer, Eric G.; Littman, Dan R.; Abramson, Steven B.

2014-01-01

Objective To characterize the diversity and taxonomic relative abundance of the gut microbiota in patients with never-treated, recent-onset psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Methods High-throughput 16S rRNA pyrosequencing was utilized to compare community composition of gut microbiota in PsA patients (n=16), subjects with psoriasis of the skin (Ps) (n=15) and healthy, matched-controls (n=17). Samples were further assessed for the presence and levels of fecal and serum secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), pro-inflammatory proteins and fatty-acids. Results The gut microbiota observed in PsA and Ps patients was less diverse when compared to healthy controls. These could be attributed to the reduced presence of several taxa. While both groups showed a relative decrease in Coprococcus spp., PsA samples were characterized by a significant reduction in Akkermansia, Ruminococcus, and Pseudobutyrivibrio. Supernatants of fecal samples from PsA patients revealed an increase in sIgA and a decrease in receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) levels. Fatty acid analysis revealed low levels of hexanoate and heptanoate in PsA and Ps patients. Conclusion PsA and Ps patients had a lower relative abundance of multiple intestinal bacteria. Although some genera were concomitantly decreased in both conditions, PsA samples had lower abundance of reportedly beneficial taxa. This gut microbiota profile in PsA was similar to that published for patients with IBD and was associated with changes in specific inflammatory proteins unique to this group, and distinct from Ps and controls. Thus, the role of gut microbiota in the continuum of Ps-PsA pathogenesis and the associated immune response merits further study. PMID:25319745

INFLUENCE OF INTRAMUSCULAR FAT LEVEL ON ORGANOLEPTIC, PHYSICAL, AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF IRRADIATED PORK. I. HIGH-TEMPERATURE SHORT-TIME PRE-IRRADIATION HEAT TREATMENT

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bray, R.W.; Weckel, K.G.; Evans, G.W.

1964-02-01

The influence of intramuscular fat (degree of marbling) on characteristics of precooked and irradiated pork muscle was studied. Loins were selected and categorized into three marbling levels by visual appraisal. A relatively high temperature (325 deg F) and short time (2 hr) heat treatment was used for enzyme inactivation. Samples were packed under vacuum in rigid containers and irradiated to 4.5 Mrad with gamma radiation. Irradiated and frozen control samples were evaluated up to 2l0 days later. Degree of marbling had no apparent influence on organoleptic properties of either irradiated or frozen control longissimus dorsi muscle samples. Frozen control samplesmore » were preferred in general appearance, flavor, and over-all acceptability by panelists. Irradiated samples were preferred in texture qualities. Storage time was not a major factor in organoleptic acceptability; however, acceptability of irradiated samples declined between 150 and 210 days of storage. Hunter color attributes were not affected by marbling level. L, a/sub L/ hue, and saturation were increased by radiation treatment. Mechanical tenderness values were decreased due to higher marbling level and radiation treatment. Expressible-moisture values were lowered by radiation treatment and increased with storage time. Iodine numbers were decreased by radiation. Degree of marbling did not affect thiobarbituric acid values but they were significantly lower for irradiated samples. pH values increased with higher levels of intramuscular fat, were significantly higher in irradiated samples than controls, and tended to increase steadily with advancing storage time. (BBB)« less

Interactive effects of naphthalene treatment and the onset of vitellogenesis on energy metabolism in liver and gonad, and plasma steroid hormones of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss.

PubMed

Tintos, Adrián; Gesto, Manuel; Alvarez, Rosa; Míguez, Jesús M; Soengas, José L

2006-10-01

The purpose of the study was to assess in female fish the possible interaction between treatment with a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) like naphthalene and the onset of vitellogenesis. In a first experiment, female rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) at stages 2-3 (previtellogenesis) or 4 (early vitellogenesis) were intraperitoneally injected (2 microl g(-1)) with vegetable oil alone (control) or containing naphthalene (50 mg kg(-1)) to be sampled 3 h later. A second experiment was similarly designed but using fish intraperitoneally implanted (10 microl g(-1)) with slow-release coconut oil implants alone (control) or containing 50 mg naphthalene kg(-1) body mass that were sampled 3 days after injection. On each sampling time, plasma levels of cortisol and 17beta-estradiol, and several metabolic parameters in plasma, liver and gonad were assessed. In controls, early vitellogenic fish compared with previtellogenic fish displayed changes that in some cases are confirmatory of previous studies whereas in other cases provide new information in plasma (increased amino acid levels), liver (decreased capacity for exporting glucose and reduced amino acid levels) and gonad (decreased amino acid levels). Naphthalene treatment produced in previtellogenic fish decreased 17beta-estradiol levels in plasma, increased plasma glucose or decreased liver gluconeogenic capacity whereas no major effects were noticed on parameters involved in lipid, amino acid and lactate metabolism. Differential effects of naphthalene treatment were noticed in early vitellogenic fish such as decreased 17beta-estradiol and glucose levels in plasma, increased hexokinase and glucokinase and lack of changes in fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase activities in liver, and a lower decrease of amino acid levels in gonad. Those alterations produced by naphthalene treatment resulted in a decreased capacity for covering the energy demand of vitellogenesis in liver and gonad that could contribute to a delay and/or impairment of the onset of maturation.

Survival of honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) spermatozoa incubated at room temperature from drones exposed to miticides.

PubMed

Burley, Lisa M; Fell, Richard D; Saacke, Richard G

2008-08-01

We conducted research to examine the potential impacts ofcoumaphos, fluvalinate, and Apilife VAR (Thymol) on drone honey bee, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), sperm viability over time. Drones were reared in colonies that had been treated with each miticide by using the dose recommended on the label. Drones from each miticide treatment were collected, and semen samples were pooled. The pooled samples from each treatment were subdivided and analyzed for periods of up to 6 wk. Random samples were taken from each treatment (n = 6 pools) over the 6-wk period. Sperm viability was measured using dual-fluorescent staining techniques. The exposure of drones to coumaphos during development and sexual maturation significantly reduced sperm viability for all 6 wk. Sperm viability significantly decreased from the initial sample to week 1 in control colonies, and a significant decrease in sperm viability was observed from week 5 to week 6 in all treatments and control. The potential impacts of these results on queen performance and failure are discussed.

Effects of fixation and demineralization on bone collagen D-spacing as analyzed by atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Wallace, Joseph M

2015-04-01

Collagen's role in bone is often considered secondary. As increased attention is paid to collagen, understanding the impact of tissue preservation is important in interpreting experimental results. The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that bone fixation prior to demineralization would maintain its collagen ultrastructure in an undisturbed state when analyzed using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The anterior diaphysis of a pig femur was cut into 6 mm pieces along its length. Samples were mounted, polished and randomly assigned to control or fixation groups (n = 5/group). Fixation samples were fixed for 24 h prior to demineralization. All samples were briefly demineralized to expose collagen, and imaged using AFM. Mouse tail tendons were also analyzed to explore effects of dehydration and fixation. Measurements from each bone sample were averaged and compared using a Mann-Whitney U-test. Tendon sample means were compared using RMANOVA. To investigate differences in D-spacing distributions, Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests were used. Fixation decreased D-spacing variability within and between bone samples and induced or maintained a higher average D-spacing versus control by shifting the D-spacing population upward. Tendon data indicate that fixing and drying samples leaves collagen near its undisturbed and hydrated native state. Fixation in bone prior to demineralization decreased D-spacing variability. D-spacing was shifted upward in fixed samples, indicating that collagen is stretched with mineral present and relaxes upon its removal. The ability to decrease variability in bone suggests that fixation might increase the power to detect changes in collagen due to disease or other pressures.

Prebiotics Reduce Body Fat and Alter Intestinal Microbiota in Children Who Are Overweight or With Obesity.

PubMed

Nicolucci, Alissa C; Hume, Megan P; Martínez, Inés; Mayengbam, Shyamchand; Walter, Jens; Reimer, Raylene A

2017-09-01

It might be possible to manipulate the intestinal microbiota with prebiotics or other agents to prevent or treat obesity. However, little is known about the ability of prebiotics to specifically modify gut microbiota in children with overweight/obesity or reduce body weight. We performed a randomized controlled trial to study the effects of prebiotics on body composition, markers of inflammation, bile acids in fecal samples, and composition of the intestinal microbiota in children with overweight or obesity. We performed a single-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 2 separate cohorts (March 2014 and August 2014) at the University of Calgary in Canada. Participants included children, 7-12 years old, with overweight or obesity (>85th percentile of body mass index) but otherwise healthy. Participants were randomly assigned to groups given either oligofructose-enriched inulin (OI; 8 g/day; n=22) or maltodextrin placebo (isocaloric dose, controls; n=20) once daily for 16 weeks. Fat mass and lean mass were measured using dual-energy-x-ray absorptiometry. Height, weight, and waist circumference were measured at baseline and every 4 weeks thereafter. Blood samples were collected at baseline and 16 weeks, and analyzed for lipids, cytokines, lipopolysaccharide, and insulin. Fecal samples were collected at baseline and 16 weeks; bile acids were profiled using high-performance liquid chromatography and the composition of the microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The primary outcome was change in percent body fat from baseline to 16 weeks. After 16 weeks, children who consumed OI had significant decreases in body weight z-score (decrease of 3.1%), percent body fat (decrease of 2.4%), and percent trunk fat (decrease of 3.8%) compared with children given placebo (increase of 0.5%, increase of 0.05%, and decrease of 0.3%, respectively). Children who consumed OI also had a significant reduction in level of interleukin 6 from baseline (decrease of 15%) compared with the placebo group (increase of 25%). There was a significant decrease in serum triglycerides (decrease of 19%) in the OI group. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed a significant increase in Bifidobacterium spp. in the OI group compared with controls. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed significant increases in species of the genus Bifidobacterium and decreases in Bacteroides vulgatus within the group who consumed OI. In fecal samples, levels of primary bile acids increased in the placebo group but not in the OI group over the 16-week study period. In a placebo-controlled, randomized trial, we found a prebiotic (OI) to selectively alter the intestinal microbiota and significantly reduce body weight z-score, percent body fat, percent trunk fat, and serum level of interleukin 6 in children with overweight or obesity (Clinicaltrials.gov no: NCT02125955). Copyright © 2017 AGA Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Controlling of dielectrical properties of hydroxyapatite by ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) for bone healing applications.

PubMed

Kaygili, Omer; Ates, Tankut; Keser, Serhat; Al-Ghamdi, Ahmed A; Yakuphanoglu, Fahrettin

2014-08-14

The hydroxyapatite (HAp) samples in the presence of various amounts of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) were prepared by sol-gel method. The effects of EDTA on the crystallinity, phase structure, chemical, micro-structural and dielectric properties of HAp samples were investigated. With the addition of EDTA, the average crystallite size of the HAp samples is gradually decreased from 30 to 22 nm and the crystallinity is in the range of 65-71%. The values of the lattice parameters (a and c) and volume of the unit cell are decreased by stages with the addition of EDTA. The dielectric parameters such as relative permittivity, dielectric loss and relaxation time are affected by the adding of EDTA. The alternating current conductivity of the as-synthesized hydroxyapatites increases with the increasing frequency and obeys the universal power law behavior. The HAp samples exhibit a non-Debye relaxation mechanism. The obtained results that the dielectrical parameters of the HAp sample can be controlled by EDTA. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Flaxseed gum in combination with lemongrass essential oil as an effective edible coating for ready-to-eat pomegranate arils.

PubMed

Yousuf, Basharat; Srivastava, Abhaya Kumar

2017-11-01

Flaxseed gum (FSG) in combination with lemongrass essential oil (LGEO) was investigated for coating of ready-to-eat pomegranate arils. FSG was used at 0.3% and 0.6% concentrations and with both concentrations LGEO was incorporated at levels of 0ppm, 200ppm, 500ppm and 800ppm. Changes in headspace gases, physicochemical, microbiological and sensory attributes of pomegranate arils stored at 5°C were studied on different days of analysis during the 12day storage period. Coatings containing LGEO were effective in reducing total plate count and yeast and mold populations. Increasing LGEO concentrations in the coatings resulted in more decline in microbial populations. Reduced weight loss occurred in coated samples as compared to uncoated (control) sample. Coated samples showed a gradual decrease in ripening index in contrast with control where a significantly higher decline was observed. Total soluble solids, pH and titratable acidity significantly varied over the storage period. Color change (ΔE) for control increased steeply over the storage time in comparison to coated samples. Furthermore, chroma decreased while as hue angle increased over time. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The effects of RF plasma ashing on zinc orthotitanate/potassium silicate thermal control coatings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dever, Joyce A.; Bruckner, Eric J.

1992-01-01

Samples of YB-71, a white thermal control coating composed of zinc orthotitanate pigment in a potassium silicate binder, were exposed in air plasma and in oxygen plasma to determine optical property and surface chemistry changes. Results show that YB-71 undergoes a significant reflectance decrease upon exposure to the simulated LEO atomic oxygen environment provided by an air plasma asher. YB-71 samples exposed to the same effective fluence in oxygen plasma, or in a UV screening Faraday cage in air or oxygen, do not undergo as severe reflectance decreases as the samples exposed in the air plasma asher environment. The UV and VUV radiation present in the plasma ashers affects the YB-71 degradation. It is noted that, when using plasma ashers to determine LEO degradation, it is necessary to take into account the sensitivity of the material to the synergistic effects of atomic oxygen and accelerated UV radiation.

Systemic hyperfibrinolysis after trauma: a pilot study of targeted proteomic analysis of superposed mechanisms in patient plasma.

PubMed

Banerjee, Anirban; Silliman, Christopher C; Moore, Ernest E; Dzieciatkowska, Monika; Kelher, Marguerite; Sauaia, Angela; Jones, Kenneth; Chapman, Michael P; Gonzalez, Eduardo; Moore, Hunter B; D'Alessandro, Angelo; Peltz, Erik; Huebner, Benjamin E; Einerson, Peter; Chandler, James; Ghasabayan, Arsen; Hansen, Kirk

2018-06-01

Viscoelastic measurements of hemostasis indicate that 20% of seriously injured patients exhibit systemic hyperfibrinolysis, with increased early mortality. These patients have normal clot formation with rapid clot lysis. Targeted proteomics was applied to quantify plasma proteins from hyperfibrinolytic (HF) patients to elucidate potential pathophysiology. Blood samples were collected in the field or at emergency department arrival and thrombelastography (TEG) was used to characterize in vitro clot formation under native and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)-stimulated conditions. Ten samples were taken from injured patients exhibiting normal lysis time at 30 min (Ly30), "eufibrinolytic" (EF), 10 from HF patients, defined as tPA-stimulated TEG Ly30 >50%, and 10 from healthy controls. Trauma patient samples were analyzed by targeted proteomics and ELISA assays for specific coagulation proteins. HF patients exhibited increased plasminogen activation. Thirty-three proteins from the HF patients were significantly decreased compared with healthy controls and EF patients; 17 were coagulation proteins with anti-protease consumption (p < 0.005). The other 16 decreased proteins indicate activation of the alternate complement pathway, depletion of carrier proteins, and four glycoproteins. CXC7 was elevated in all injured patients versus healthy controls (p < 0.005), and 35 proteins were unchanged across all groups (p > 0.1 and fold change of concentrations of 0.75-1.3). HF patients had significant decreases in specific proteins and support mechanisms known in trauma-induced hyperfibrinolysis and also unexpected decreases in coagulation factors, factors II, X, and XIII, without changes in clot formation (SP, R times, or angle). Decreased clot stability in HF patients was corroborated with tPA-stimulated TEGs. Prognostic, level III.

Temperamental factors in remitted depression: The role of effortful control and attentional mechanisms.

PubMed

Marchetti, Igor; Shumake, Jason; Grahek, Ivan; Koster, Ernst H W

2018-08-01

Temperamental effortful control and attentional networks are increasingly viewed as important underlying processes in depression and anxiety. However, it is still unknown whether these factors facilitate depressive and anxiety symptoms in the general population and, more specifically, in remitted depressed individuals. We investigated to what extent effortful control and attentional networks (i.e., Attention Network Task) explain concurrent depressive and anxious symptoms in healthy individuals (n = 270) and remitted depressed individuals (n = 90). Both samples were highly representative of the US population. Increased effortful control predicted a substantial decrease in symptoms of both depression and anxiety in the whole sample, whereas decreased efficiency of executive attention predicted a modest increase in depressive symptoms. Remitted depressed individuals did not show less effortful control nor less efficient attentional networks than healthy individuals. Moreover, clinical status did not moderate the relationship between temperamental factors and either depressive or anxiety symptoms. Limitations include the cross-sectional nature of the study. Our study shows that temperamental effortful control represents an important transdiagnostic process for depressive and anxiety symptoms in adults. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ibuprofen and lipoic acid conjugate neuroprotective activity is mediated by Ngb/Akt intracellular signaling pathway in Alzheimer's disease rat model.

PubMed

Zara, Susi; De Colli, Marianna; Rapino, Monica; Pacella, Stephanie; Nasuti, Cinzia; Sozio, Piera; Di Stefano, Antonio; Cataldi, Amelia

2013-01-01

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a frequent form of senile dementia. Neuroglobin (Ngb) has a neuroprotective role and decreases Aβ peptide levels. Ngb, promoting Akt phosphorylation, activates cell survival involving cyclic-nucleotide response element-binding protein (CREB). A new molecule (IBU-LA) was synthetized and administered to an AD rat model to counteract AD progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the IBU-LA-mediated induction of Ngb neuroprotective and antiapoptotic activities. Brain morphology was analyzed through Bielschowsky staining, Aβ(1-40) and Ngb expression by immunohistochemistry. Akt, p-Akt, CREB and p-CREB expression was evaluated by Western blot, apoptosis through cytochrome C/Apaf 1 immunocomplex formation, and TUNEL analysis. Bielschowsky staining and Aβ(1-40) expression show few nerve connections and Aβ(1-40) expression in an Aβ sample, preserved neuronal cells and Aβ(1-40) expression lowering in an IBU sample, mostly in IBU-LA. The Ngb level decreases in Aβ samples, compared to control and IBU-LA samples. p-Akt/Akt and p-CREB/CREB ratios reveal a reduction in Aβ sample, going back to the basal level in control and IBU-LA samples. Cytochrome C/Apaf 1 co-immunoprecipitate occurs and TUNEL-positive nuclei percentage decreases in Aβ sample. Probe test performance shows an increased spatial reference memory in the IBU-LA compared to the Aβ sample; no significant differences were seen between the IBU-LA and IBU samples. This evidence reveals that IBU-LA administration has the capability to maintain a high Ngb level allowing Ngb to perform a neuroprotective and antiapoptotic role, representing a valid tool in the therapeutic strategy of AD progression. Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Effects of age and amyloid deposition on Aβ dynamics in the human central nervous system.

PubMed

Huang, Yafei; Potter, Rachel; Sigurdson, Wendy; Santacruz, Anna; Shih, Shirley; Ju, Yo-El; Kasten, Tom; Morris, John C; Mintun, Mark; Duntley, Stephen; Bateman, Randall J

2012-01-01

The amyloid hypothesis predicts that increased production or decreased clearance of β-amyloid (Aβ) leads to amyloidosis, which ultimately culminates in Alzheimer disease (AD). To investigate whether dynamic changes in Aβ levels in the human central nervous system may be altered by aging or by the pathology of AD and thus contribute to the risk of AD. Repeated-measures case-control study. Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, Missouri. Participants with amyloid deposition, participants without amyloid deposition, and younger normal control participants. In this study, hourly cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Aβ concentrations were compared with age, status of amyloid deposition, electroencephalography, and video recording data. Linear increases were observed over time in the Aβ levels in CSF samples obtained from the younger normal control participants and the older participants without amyloid deposition, but not from the older participants with amyloid deposition. Significant circadian patterns were observed in the Aβ levels in CSF samples obtained from the younger control participants; however, circadian amplitudes decreased in both older participants without amyloid deposition and older participants with amyloid deposition. Aβ diurnal concentrations were correlated with the amount of sleep but not with the various activities that the participants participated in while awake. A reduction in the linear increase in the Aβ levels in CSF samples that is associated with amyloid deposition and a decreased CSF Aβ diurnal pattern associated with increasing age disrupt the normal physiology of Aβ dynamics and may contribute to AD.

Pressure dependence of the electrical properties of GaBi solidified in low gravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wu, M. K.; Ashburn, J. R.; Torng, C. J.; Curreri, P. A.; Chu, C. W.

1987-01-01

Immiscible GaBi alloys were solidified during free fall in the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center drop tower, which provides about 4.5 seconds of low gravity. The electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility were measured as a function of pressure (up to 18 kbar) and temperature (300 K to 4.2 K) of drop tower (DT) and ground control (GC) samples prepared under identical conditions, except for gravity. At ambient pressure the electrical resistance of the DT sample exhibits a broad maximum at 100 K, while that of GC sample decreases rapidly as temperature decreases. Both DT and GC samples become superconducting at 7.7 K. However, a minor second superconducting phase with a transition temperature at 8.3 K is observed only in the DT samples.

Diagenetic and compositional controls of wettability in siliceous sedimentary rocks, Monterey Formation, California

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hill, Kristina M.

Modified imbibition tests were performed on 69 subsurface samples from Monterey Formation reservoirs in the San Joaquin Valley to measure wettability variation as a result of composition and silica phase change. Contact angle tests were also performed on 6 chert samples from outcrop and 3 nearly pure mineral samples. Understanding wettability is important because it is a key factor in reservoir fluid distribution and movement, and its significance rises as porosity and permeability decrease and fluid interactions with reservoir grain surface area increase. Although the low permeability siliceous reservoirs of the Monterey Formation are economically important and prolific, a greater understanding of factors that alter their wettability will help better develop them. Imbibition results revealed a strong trend of decreased wettability to oil with increased detrital content in opal-CT phase samples. Opal-A phase samples exhibited less wettability to oil than both opal-CT and quartz phase samples of similar detrital content. Subsurface reservoir samples from 3 oil fields were crushed to eliminate the effect of capillary pressure and cleansed of hydrocarbons to eliminate wettability alterations by asphaltene, then pressed into discs of controlled density. Powder discs were tested for wettability by dispensing a controlled volume of water and motor oil onto the surface and measuring the time required for each fluid to imbibe into the sample. The syringe and software of a CAM101 tensiometer were used to control the amount of fluid dispensed onto each sample, and imbibition completion times were determined by high-speed photography for water drops; oil drop imbibition was significantly slower and imbibition was timed and determined visually. Contact angle of water and oil drops on polished chert and mineral sample surfaces was determined by image analysis and the Young-Laplace equation. Oil imbibition was significantly slower with increased detrital composition and faster with increased silica content in opal-CT and quartz phase samples, implying decreased wettability to oil with increased detrital (clay) content. However, contact angle tests showed that opal-CT is more wetting to oil with increased detritus and results for oil on quartz-phase samples were inconsistent between different proxies for detritus over their very small compositional range. Water contact angle trends also showed inconsistent wetting trends compared to imbibition tests. We believe this is because the small range in bulk detrital composition between the "pure" samples used in contact angle tests was close to analytical error and because small-scale spatial compositional variability may be significant enough to effect wettability. These experiments show that compositional variables significantly affect wettability, outweighing the effect of silica phase.

Decrease of Prefrontal-Posterior EEG Coherence: Loose Control during Social-Emotional Stimulation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reiser, Eva M.; Schulter, Gunter; Weiss, Elisabeth M.; Fink, Andreas; Rominger, Christian; Papousek, Ilona

2012-01-01

In two experiments we aimed to investigate if individual differences in state-dependent decreases or increases of EEG coherence between prefrontal and posterior cortical regions may be indicative of a mechanism modulating the impact social-emotional information has on an individual. Two independent samples were exposed to an emotional stimulation…

Physiological short-term response to sudden salinity change in the Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis).

PubMed

Herrera, Marcelino; Aragão, Cláudia; Hachero, Ismael; Ruiz-Jarabo, Ignacio; Vargas-Chacoff, Luis; Mancera, Juan Miguel; Conceição, Luis E C

2012-12-01

The physiological responses of Senegalese sole to a sudden salinity change were investigated. The fish were first acclimated to an initial salinity of 37.5 ppt for 4 h. Then, one group was subjected to increased salinity (55 ppt) while another group was subjected to decreased salinity (5 ppt). The third group (control group) remained at 37.5 ppt. We measured the oxygen consumption rate, osmoregulatory (plasma osmolality, gill and kidney Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activities) and stress (plasma cortisol and metabolites) parameters 0.5 and 3 h after transfer. Oxygen consumption at both salinities was higher than for the control at both sampling times. Gill Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity was significantly higher for the 55 ppt salinity at 0.5 h. Plasma osmolality decreased in the fish exposed to 5 ppt at the two sampling times but no changes were detected for high salinities. Plasma cortisol levels significantly increased at both salinities, although these values declined in the low-salinity group 3 h after transfer. Plasma glucose at 5 ppt salinity did not vary significantly at 0.5 h but decreased at 3 h, while lactate increased for both treatments at the first sampling time and returned to the control levels at 3 h. Overall, the physiological response of S. senegalensis was immediate and involved a rise in oxygen consumption and plasma cortisol values as well as greater metabolite mobilization at both salinities.

Using public control genotype data to increase power and decrease cost of case-control genetic association studies.

PubMed

Ho, Lindsey A; Lange, Ethan M

2010-12-01

Genome-wide association (GWA) studies are a powerful approach for identifying novel genetic risk factors associated with human disease. A GWA study typically requires the inclusion of thousands of samples to have sufficient statistical power to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms that are associated with only modest increases in risk of disease given the heavy burden of a multiple test correction that is necessary to maintain valid statistical tests. Low statistical power and the high financial cost of performing a GWA study remains prohibitive for many scientific investigators anxious to perform such a study using their own samples. A number of remedies have been suggested to increase statistical power and decrease cost, including the utilization of free publicly available genotype data and multi-stage genotyping designs. Herein, we compare the statistical power and relative costs of alternative association study designs that use cases and screened controls to study designs that are based only on, or additionally include, free public control genotype data. We describe a novel replication-based two-stage study design, which uses free public control genotype data in the first stage and follow-up genotype data on case-matched controls in the second stage that preserves many of the advantages inherent when using only an epidemiologically matched set of controls. Specifically, we show that our proposed two-stage design can substantially increase statistical power and decrease cost of performing a GWA study while controlling the type-I error rate that can be inflated when using public controls due to differences in ancestry and batch genotype effects.

Identifying Etiological Agents Causing Diarrhea in Low Income Ecuadorian Communities

PubMed Central

Vasco, Gabriela; Trueba, Gabriel; Atherton, Richard; Calvopiña, Manuel; Cevallos, William; Andrade, Thamara; Eguiguren, Martha; Eisenberg, Joseph N. S.

2014-01-01

Continued success in decreasing diarrheal disease burden requires targeted interventions. To develop such interventions, it is crucial to understand which pathogens cause diarrhea. Using a case-control design we tested stool samples, collected in both rural and urban Ecuador, for 15 pathogenic microorganisms. Pathogens were present in 51% of case and 27% of control samples from the urban community, and 62% of case and 18% of control samples collected from the rural community. Rotavirus and Shigellae were associated with diarrhea in the urban community; co-infections were more pathogenic than single infection; Campylobacter and Entamoeba histolytica were found in large numbers in cases and controls; and non-typhi Salmonella and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli were not found in any samples. Consistent with the Global Enteric Multicenter Study, focused in south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, we found that in Ecuador a small group of pathogens accounted for a significant amount of the diarrheal disease burden. PMID:25048373

Two-dimensional simple proportional feedback control of a chaotic reaction system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mukherjee, Ankur; Searson, Dominic P.; Willis, Mark J.; Scott, Stephen K.

2008-04-01

The simple proportional feedback (SPF) control algorithm may, in principle, be used to attain periodic oscillations in dynamic systems exhibiting low-dimensional chaos. However, if implemented within a discrete control framework with sampling frequency limitations, controller performance may deteriorate. This phenomenon is illustrated using simulations of a chaotic autocatalytic reaction system. A two-dimensional (2D) SPF controller that explicitly takes into account some of the problems caused by limited sampling rates is then derived by introducing suitable modifications to the original SPF method. Using simulations, the performance of the 2D-SPF controller is compared to that of a conventional SPF control law when implemented as a sampled data controller. Two versions of the 2D-SPF controller are described: linear (L2D-SPF) and quadratic (Q2D-SPF). The performance of both the L2D-SPF and Q2D-SPF controllers is shown to be superior to the SPF when controller sampling frequencies are decreased. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the Q2D-SPF controller provides better fixed point stabilization compared to both the L2D-SPF and the conventional SPF when concentration measurements are corrupted by noise.

The effect of thermal history on crystalline structure and mechanical properties of β-nucleated isotactic polypropylene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tian, Yefei; Zhou, Jian; Feng, Jiachun

2018-04-01

The effect of thermal history on β-nucleated iPP was systematically investigated by comparing the variance of crystalline microstructures and mechanical property of stepwise crystallized sample and annealed sample, which experienced different thermal history. The mechanical property tests exhibit that that the toughness of stepwise crystallized sample and annealed sample were both decreased compared to control sample, while the tensile strength of the stepwise crystallized sample increased slightly. Structure investigation showed that the α-relaxation peak, which is related to the assignment of chains in rigid amorphous phase, moved to the high temperature region for stepwise crystallized sample, while it moved to the low temperature region for annealed sample. The results indicated the weakening in rigid amorphous fraction (RAF) and the increase in lamellar thickness of β-iPP after stepwise crystallization treatment. For annealed sample, the RAF strengthened and lamellar thickness decreased slightly after thermal treatment. A mechanism of crystalline microstructures evolution of restricted area between the main lamellar under different treatments was proposed.

Effects of grain size on the corrosion resistance of pure magnesium by cooling rate-controlled solidification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yichi; Liu, Debao; You, Chen; Chen, Minfang

2015-09-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of grain size on the corrosion resistance of pure magnesium developed for biomedical applications. High-purity magnesium samples with different grain size were prepared by the cooling rate-controlled solidification. Electrochemical and immersion tests were employed to measure the corrosion resistance of pure magnesium with different grain size. The electrochemical polarization curves indicated that the corrosion susceptibility increased as the grain size decrease. However, the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and immersion tests indicated that the corrosion resistance of pure magnesium is improved as the grain size decreases. The improvement in the corrosion resistance is attributed to refine grain can produce more uniform and density film on the surface of sample.

A General Linear Method for Equating with Small Samples

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Albano, Anthony D.

2015-01-01

Research on equating with small samples has shown that methods with stronger assumptions and fewer statistical estimates can lead to decreased error in the estimated equating function. This article introduces a new approach to linear observed-score equating, one which provides flexible control over how form difficulty is assumed versus estimated…

Insights in groundwater organic matter from Liquid Chromatography-Organic Carbon Detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rutlidge, H.; Oudone, P.; McDonough, L.; Andersen, M. S.; Baker, A.; Meredith, K.; O'Carroll, D. M.

2017-12-01

Understanding the processes that control the concentration and characteristics of organic matter in groundwater has important implications for the terrestrial global carbon budget. Liquid Chromatography - Organic Carbon Detection (LC-OCD) is a size-exclusion based chromatography technique that separates the organic carbon into molecular weight size fractions of biopolymers, humic substances, building blocks (degradation products of humic substances), low molecular weight acids and low molecular weight neutrals. Groundwater and surface water samples were collected from a range of locations in Australia representing different surface soil, land cover, recharge type and hydrological properties. At one site hyporheic zone samples were also collected from beneath a stream. The results showed a general decrease in the aromaticity and molecular weight indices going from surface water, hyporheic downwelling and groundwater samples. The aquifer substrate also affected the organic composition. For example, groundwater samples collected from a zone of fractured rock showed a relative decrease in the proportion of humic substances, suggestive of sorption or degradation of humic substances. This work demonstrates the potential for using LC-OCD in elucidating the processes that control the concentration and characteristics of organic matter in groundwater.

Decreased expression of fibulin-4 in aortic wall of aortic dissection.

PubMed

Huawei, P; Qian, C; Chuan, T; Lei, L; Laing, W; Wenlong, X; Wenzhi, L

2014-02-01

In this research, we will examine the expression of Fibulin-4 in aortic wall to find out its role in aortic dissection development. The samples of aortic wall were obtained from 10 patients operated for acute ascending aortic dissection and five patients for chronic ascending aortic dissection. Another 15 pieces of samples from patients who had coronary artery bypass were as controls. The aortic samples were stained with aldehyde magenta dyeing to evaluate the arrangement of elastic fibers. The Fibulin-4 protein and mRNA expression were both determined by Western blot and realtime quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Compared with the control group, both in acute and chronic ascending aortic dissection, elastic fiber fragments increased and the expression of fibulin-4 protein significantly decreased (P= 0.045 < 0.05). The level of fibulin-4 mRNA decreased in acute ascending aortic dissection (P= 0.034 < 0.05), while it increased in chronic ascending aortic dissection (P=0.004 < 0.05). The increased amounts of elastic fiber fragments were negatively correlated with the expression of fibulin-4 mRNA in acute ascending aortic dissection. In conclusion, in aortic wall of ascending aortic dissection, the expression of fibulin-4 protein decreased and the expression of fibulin-4 mRNA was abnormal. Fibulin-4 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of aortic dissection.

Surface passivation and aging of InGaAs/InP heterojunction phototransistors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Min-Su; Razaei, Mohsen; Barnhart, Katie; Tan, Chee Leong; Mohseni, Hooman

2017-06-01

We report the effect of different surface treatment and passivation techniques on the stability of InGaAs/InP heterojunction phototransistors (HPTs). An In0.53Ga0.47As surface passivated with aqueous ammonium sulfide ((NH4)2S), aluminum oxide (Al2O3) grown by atomic layer deposition (ALD), and their combination is evaluated by using Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). All samples were kept in the air ambient, and their performances were periodically measured to investigate their long-term stability. Raman spectroscopy revealed that the peak intensity of the GaAs-like longitudinal optical phonon of all passivated samples is decreased compared with that of the control sample. This is attributable to the diminution of the carriers near the passivated surfaces, which was proven by extracted surface potential (Vs). The Vs of all passivated samples was decreased to less than half of that for the control sample. XPS evaluation of As3d spectra showed that arsenic oxides (As2O3 and As2O5) on the surfaces of the samples can be removed by passivation. However, both Raman and XPS spectra show that the (NH4)2S passivated sample reverts back over time and will resemble the untreated control sample. When capped with ALD-grown Al2O3, passivated samples irrespective of the pretreatment show no degradation over the measured time of 4 weeks. Similar conclusions are made from our experimental measurement of the performance of differently passivated HPTs. The ALD-grown Al2O3 passivated devices show an improved optical gain at low optical powers and long-term stability.

Radiation modification of Ni nanotubes by electrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kozlovskiy, A.; Kaikanov, M.; Tikhonov, A.; Kenzhina, I.; Ponomarev, D.; Zdorovets, M.

2017-10-01

Electron irradiation of metal nanostructures is an effective tool for stimulating a controlled modification of the structural and conductive material properties. Use of the electron irradiation with energies less than 500 keV allows conducting controlled annealing of nanotube defects, which leads to the improvement of the conductive properties due to decreasing resistance. In this case, the use of radiation doses above 150 kGy induces the samples destruction, caused by the thermal heating of nanotubes, leading to the crystal lattice destruction and the sample amorphization.

Measurements of concentrations of chlorofluoromethanes (CFMs) carbon dioxide and carbon isotope ratio in stratospheric and tropospheric air by grab-sampling systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Itoh, T.; Kubo, H.; Honda, H.; Tominaga, T.; Makide, Y.; Yakohata, A.; Sakai, H.

1985-01-01

Measurements of concentrations of chlorofluoromethanes (CFMs), carbon dioxide and carbon isotope ratio in stratospheric and tropospheric air by grab-sampling systems are reported. The balloon-borne grab-sampling system has been launched from Sanriku Balloon Center three times since 1981. It consists of: (1) six sampling cylinders, (2) eight motor driven values, (3) control and monitor circuits, and (4) pressurized housing. Particular consideration is paid to the problem of contamination. Strict requirements are placed on the choice of materials and components, construction methods, cleaning techniques, vacuum integrity, and sampling procedures. An aluminum pressurized housing and a 4-m long inlet line are employed to prevent the sampling air from contamination by outgassing of sampling and control devices. The sampling is performed during the descent of the system. Vertical profiles of mixing ratios of CF2Cl2, CFCl3 and CH4 are given. Mixing ratios of CF2Cl2 and CFCl3 in the stratosphere do not show the discernible effect of the increase of those in the ground level background, and decrease with altitude. Decreasing rate of CFCl3 is larger than that of CF2Cl2. CH4 mixing ratio, on the other hand, shows diffusive equilibrium, as the photodissociation cross section of CH4 is small and concentrations of OH radical and 0(sup I D) are low.

Statistical Methods in Assembly Quality Management of Multi-Element Products on Automatic Rotor Lines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pries, V. V.; Proskuriakov, N. E.

2018-04-01

To control the assembly quality of multi-element mass-produced products on automatic rotor lines, control methods with operational feedback are required. However, due to possible failures in the operation of the devices and systems of automatic rotor line, there is always a real probability of getting defective (incomplete) products into the output process stream. Therefore, a continuous sampling control of the products completeness, based on the use of statistical methods, remains an important element in managing the quality of assembly of multi-element mass products on automatic rotor lines. The feature of continuous sampling control of the multi-element products completeness in the assembly process is its breaking sort, which excludes the possibility of returning component parts after sampling control to the process stream and leads to a decrease in the actual productivity of the assembly equipment. Therefore, the use of statistical procedures for continuous sampling control of the multi-element products completeness when assembled on automatic rotor lines requires the use of such sampling plans that ensure a minimum size of control samples. Comparison of the values of the limit of the average output defect level for the continuous sampling plan (CSP) and for the automated continuous sampling plan (ACSP) shows the possibility of providing lower limit values for the average output defects level using the ACSP-1. Also, the average sample size when using the ACSP-1 plan is less than when using the CSP-1 plan. Thus, the application of statistical methods in the assembly quality management of multi-element products on automatic rotor lines, involving the use of proposed plans and methods for continuous selective control, will allow to automating sampling control procedures and the required level of quality of assembled products while minimizing sample size.

Crystal structures and magnetic properties of magnetite (Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4})/Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) ribbon

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ardiyanti, Harlina; Suharyadi, Edi, E-mail: esuharyadi@ugm.ac.id; Kato, Takeshi

2016-04-19

Ribbon of magnetite (Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4})/Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) nanoparticles have been successfully fabricated with various concentration of PVA synthesized by co-precipitation method. Particle size of nanoparticles Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} sample and ribbon Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}/PVA 25% sample is about 9.34 nm and 11.29 nm, respectively. The result of Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) showed that saturation magnetization value decreased from 76.99 emu/g to 15.01 emu/g and coercivity increased from 49.30 Oe to 158.35 Oe as increasing concentration of PVA. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) analysis showed that encapsulated PVA given decreasing agglomeration, controlled shape of nanoparticles Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} more spherical and dispersed. Surfacemore » roughness decreased with increasing concentration of PVA.« less

Decreased expression of endogenous feline leukemia virus in cat lymphomas: a case control study.

PubMed

Krunic, Milica; Ertl, Reinhard; Hagen, Benedikt; Sedlazeck, Fritz J; Hofmann-Lehmann, Regina; von Haeseler, Arndt; Klein, Dieter

2015-04-10

Cats infected with exogenous feline leukemia virus (exFeLV) have a higher chance of lymphoma development than uninfected cats. Furthermore, an increased exFeLV transcription has been detected in lymphomas compared to non-malignant tissues. The possible mechanisms of lymphoma development by exFeLV are insertional mutagenesis or persistent stimulation of host immune cells by viral antigens, bringing them at risk for malignant transformation. Vaccination of cats against exFeLV has in recent years decreased the overall infection rate in most countries. Nevertheless, an increasing number of lymphomas have been diagnosed among exFeLV-negative cats. Endogenous feline leukemia virus (enFeLV) is another retrovirus for which transcription has been observed in cat lymphomas. EnFeLV provirus elements are present in the germline of various cat species and share a high sequence similarity with exFeLV but, due to mutations, are incapable of producing infectious viral particles. However, recombination between exFeLV and enFeLV could produce infectious particles. We examined the FeLV expression in cats that have developed malignant lymphomas and discussed the possible mechanisms that could have induced malignant transformation. For expression analysis we used next-generation RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) and for validation reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). First, we showed that there was no expression of exFeLV in all samples, which eliminates the possibility of recombination between exFeLV and enFeLV. Next, we analyzed the difference in expression of three enFeLV genes between control and lymphoma samples. Our analysis showed an average of 3.40-fold decreased viral expression for the three genes in lymphoma compared to control samples. The results were confirmed by RT-qPCR. There is a decreased expression of enFeLV genes in lymphomas versus control samples, which contradicts previous observations for the exFeLV. Our results suggest that a persistent stimulation of host immune cells is not an appropriate mechanism responsible for malignant transformation caused by feline endogenous retroviruses.

Triennial changes in groundwater quality in aquifers used for public supply in California: Utility as indicators of temporal trends

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kent, Robert; Landon, Matthew K.

2016-01-01

From 2004 to 2011, the U.S. Geological Survey collected samples from 1686 wells across the State of California as part of the California State Water Resources Control Board’s Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment (GAMA) Priority Basin Project (PBP). From 2007 to 2013, 224 of these wells were resampled to assess temporal trends in water quality. The samples were analyzed for 216 water-quality constituents, including inorganic and organic compounds as well as isotopic tracers. The resampled wells were grouped into five hydrogeologic zones. A nonparametric hypothesis test was used to test the differences between initial sampling and resampling results to evaluate possible step trends in water-quality, statewide, and within each hydrogeologic zone. The hypothesis tests were performed on the 79 constituents that were detected in more than 5 % of the samples collected during either sampling period in at least one hydrogeologic zone. Step trends were detected for 17 constituents. Increasing trends were detected for alkalinity, aluminum, beryllium, boron, lithium, orthophosphate, perchlorate, sodium, and specific conductance. Decreasing trends were detected for atrazine, cobalt, dissolved oxygen, lead, nickel, pH, simazine, and tritium. Tritium was expected to decrease due to decreasing values in precipitation, and the detection of decreases indicates that the method is capable of resolving temporal trends.

Extensive Modulation of the Fecal Metagenome in Children With Crohn's Disease During Exclusive Enteral Nutrition

PubMed Central

Quince, Christopher; Ijaz, Umer Zeeshan; Loman, Nick; Eren, A Murat; Saulnier, Delphine; Russell, Julie; Haig, Sarah J; Calus, Szymon T; Quick, Joshua; Barclay, Andrew; Bertz, Martin; Blaut, Michael; Hansen, Richard; McGrogan, Paraic; Russell, Richard K; Edwards, Christine A; Gerasimidis, Konstantinos

2015-01-01

OBJECTIVES: Exploring associations between the gut microbiota and colonic inflammation and assessing sequential changes during exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) may offer clues into the microbial origins of Crohn's disease (CD). METHODS: Fecal samples (n=117) were collected from 23 CD and 21 healthy children. From CD children fecal samples were collected before, during EEN, and when patients returned to their habitual diets. Microbiota composition and functional capacity were characterized using sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and shotgun metagenomics. RESULTS: Microbial diversity was lower in CD than controls before EEN (P=0.006); differences were observed in 36 genera, 141 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), and 44 oligotypes. During EEN, the microbial diversity of CD children further decreased, and the community structure became even more dissimilar than that of controls. Every 10 days on EEN, 0.6 genus diversity equivalents were lost; 34 genera decreased and one increased during EEN. Fecal calprotectin correlated with 35 OTUs, 14 of which accounted for 78% of its variation. OTUs that correlated positively or negatively with calprotectin decreased during EEN. The microbiota of CD patients had a broader functional capacity than healthy controls, but diversity decreased with EEN. Genes involved in membrane transport, sulfur reduction, and nutrient biosynthesis differed between patients and controls. The abundance of genes involved in biotin (P=0.005) and thiamine biosynthesis decreased (P=0.017), whereas those involved in spermidine/putrescine biosynthesis (P=0.031), or the shikimate pathway (P=0.058), increased during EEN. CONCLUSIONS: Disease improvement following treatment with EEN is associated with extensive modulation of the gut microbiome. PMID:26526081

Reduction of Biogenic Amines during Miso Fermentation by Lactobacillus plantarum as a Starter Culture.

PubMed

Lee, Yi-Chen; Kung, Hsien-Feng; Huang, Ya-Ling; Wu, Chien-Hui; Huang, Yu-Ru; Tsai, Yung-Hsiang

2016-09-01

Lactobacillus plantarum D-103 isolated from a miso product that possesses amine-degrading activity was used as a starter culture in miso fermentation (25°C for 120 days) in this study. The salt content in control samples (without starter culture) and inoculated samples (inoculated with L. plantarum D-103) remained constant at 10.4% of the original salt concentration throughout fermentation, whereas the pH value decreased from 6.2 to 4.6 during fermentation. The inoculated samples had significantly lower (P < 0.05) levels of total volatile basic nitrogen than control samples after 40 days of fermentation. After 120 days of fermentation, the histamine and overall biogenic amine contents in inoculated samples were reduced by 58 and 27%, respectively, compared with control samples. To our knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate that application of a starter culture with amine-degrading activity in miso products was effective in reducing the accumulation of biogenic amines.

Could cryopreserved human semen samples be stored at -80°C?

PubMed

Vaz, Carlos R; Lamim, Tamara; Salvador, Rafael A; Batschauer, Anna P B; Amaral, Vera Lucia L; Til, David

2018-06-01

To evaluate storage time effects in cryopreserved human semen samples, kept in the freezer at a controlled temperature of -80°C, on sperm viability after thawing. We used 20 semen samples. Each sample was cryopreserved in 10 fingers, which were divided into five groups: one group was kept in cryogenic canisters throughout the experiment(control), and four groups were kept in a VIP Ultra Low MDF-U76V- PE freezer, with the temperature set at -80°C, for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours, respectively. After the exposure time, the samples were stored in cryogenic canisters after being thawed. The analyzed parameters were: motility, vitality and mitochondrial activity. After thawing, we noticed decreased sperm motility, vitality and mitochondrial activity, when comparing the tested groups with the control group, as well as a progressive reduction in the analyzed parameters between the times evaluated. Cryopreservation of semen samples at -80°C is potentially harmful to sperm viability, causing damage when submitted to longer exposure times.

Insight into mechanism of oxidative DNA damage in angiomyolipomas from TSC patients

PubMed Central

Habib, Samy L

2009-01-01

Background The tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is caused by defects in one of two tumor suppressor genes, TSC-1 or TSC-2. TSC-2 gene encodes tuberin, a protein involved in the pathogenesis of kidney tumors, both angiomyolipomas and renal cell carcinomas. Loss of heterozygosity at the 8-oxoG-DNA glycosylase (OGG1) allele is found in human kidney clear cell carcinoma identifying loss of OGG1 function as a possible contributor to tumorigenesis in the kidney. Tuberin regulates OGG1 through the transcription factor NF-YA in cultured cells. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of tuberin-deficiency on OGG1 protein and mRNA levels as well as on 8-oxodG levels in kidney tumors from patients with TSC. In addition we evaluated the phophorylation level of downstream targets of mTOR, phospho-S70K, in kidney tumor tissue from TSC patients. Results Kidney angiomyolipoma tissue from TSC patients expresses significant levels of phopho-tuberin and low levels of tuberin compared to control kidney tissue. The increase in tuberin phosphorylation and the decrease tuberin expression are associated with decrease in OGG1 protein and mRNA levels in tumor samples compared to normal kidney samples. The decrease OGG1 expression is also associated with significant decrease in the transcription factor, NF-YA, expression in tumor samples compared to normal tissues. In addition, the levels of 8-oxodG are 4-fold higher in tumors compared to control samples. The significant increase of phospho-tuberin expression is associated with increase phosphorylation of S6K in tumor samples compared to controls. Cyclin D1 expression is also 3-fold higher in increase in the tumor tissues compared to normal kidney tissues. Conclusion These data indicate that tuberin deficiency in angiomyolipoma enhances mTOR activation by phosphorylation of S6K and downregulation of protein and mRNA expression of OGG1 resulted in accumulation of oxidized DNA in patients with TSC. These data suggest that tuberin and OGG1 are important proteins in the pathogenesis of angiomyolipoma in TSC patients. PMID:19265534

Porosity dependence of terahertz emission of porous silicon investigated using reflection geometry terahertz time-domain spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mabilangan, Arvin I.; Lopez, Lorenzo P.; Faustino, Maria Angela B.; Muldera, Joselito E.; Cabello, Neil Irvin F.; Estacio, Elmer S.; Salvador, Arnel A.; Somintac, Armando S.

2016-12-01

Porosity dependent terahertz emission of porous silicon (PSi) was studied. The PSi samples were fabricated via electrochemical etching of boron-doped (100) silicon in a solution containing 48% hydrofluoric acid, deionized water and absolute ethanol in a 1:3:4 volumetric ratio. The porosity was controlled by varying the supplied anodic current for each sample. The samples were then optically characterized via normal incidence reflectance spectroscopy to obtain values for their respective refractive indices and porosities. Absorbance of each sample was also computed using the data from its respective reflectance spectrum. Terahertz emission of each sample was acquired through terahertz - time domain spectroscopy. A decreasing trend in the THz signal power was observed as the porosity of each PSi was increased. This was caused by the decrease in the absorption strength as the silicon crystallite size in the PSi was minimized.

Power factor control system for AC induction motors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nola, F. J. (Inventor)

1977-01-01

A power factor control system for use with ac induction motors was designed which samples lines voltage and current through the motor and decreases power input to the motor proportional to the detected phase displacement between current and voltage. This system provides, less power to the motor, as it is less loaded.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Archer, V.E.; Fullmer, C.D.; Castle, C.H.

Although acute effects from exposure to SO/sub 2/ have frequently been observed at low levels in acute exposure experimental studies, it was not known whether or not such effects occur among workers chronically exposed at ranges of 0.3 to 4 ppM of SO/sub 2/. Measurements of FVC, FEV/sub 1/, FEF/sub 50/, FEF/sub 75/ and FEF/sub 50-75/, and closing volume were made before and after the workshift for copper smelter workers and controls. Sputum samples for cytological examination were collected. Mean FEV/sub 1/ and FVC were significantly decreased during a day's work in the smelter. Significantly more smelter workers had amore » decrease in FEV/sub 1/ and FEF/sub 50/ during the day than did controls. More of the smelter workers felt chest tightness. No change in closing volumes was seen. Smelter workers tended to have a higher percentage of sputum samples with moderate and marked atypia than did controls but the difference was not statistically significant.« less

Freezing and calcium chloride marination effects on beef tenderness and calpastatin activity.

PubMed

Whipple, G; Koohmaraie, M

1992-10-01

Because freezing samples decreases calpastatin activity and the application of exogenous calcium activates the calpain proteolytic system, thereby improving tenderness, the objective of this study was to determine whether freezing would enhance the effects of CaCl2 marination on the tenderness of beef steaks. Longissimus steaks were obtained from 10 beef steers 6 d postmortem. One-half of the steaks were frozen at -30 degrees C for 6 wk. The remaining steaks were treated fresh; one-half were subjected to a 150 mM CaCl2 marinade for 48 h. Frozen steaks were thawed and subjected to the same treatment. Treatments consisted of 1) fresh control, 2) fresh marinated, 3) frozen control, and 4) frozen marinated. Samples were taken before and after treatment (6 and 8 d) for calpastatin activity determination and d 8 for SDS-PAGE. Warner-Bratzler shear force values were measured 8 d postmortem. Data were analyzed using a paired comparison t-test procedure. Results showed that freezing and marination significantly decreased calpastatin activity. A .35-kg improvement (P = .07) in Warner-Bratzler shear force was observed with freezing, whereas a .78-kg improvement (P less than .01) in tenderness was observed with marination. However, prior freezing enhanced the effects of marination. Therefore, the decrease in calpastatin activity seemed to allow greater proteolysis by the calpains with the application of Ca2+. The SDS-PAGE of myofibril preparations indicated that more small polypeptide fragments (28 to 32 kDa) appeared and a 95-kDa fragment was more intense in the marinated samples than in control samples, indicating that proteolysis was enhanced.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of Microbial Transglutaminase on Physicochemical, Microbial and Sensorial Properties of Kefir Produced by Using Mixture Cow’s and Soymilk

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

The objective of this research was to investigate the effects microbial transglutaminase (m-TGs) on the physicochemical, microbial and sensory properties of kefir produced by using mix cow and soymilk. Kefir batches were prepared using 0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 Units m-TGs for per g of milk protein. Adding m-TGs to milk caused an increase in the pH and viscosity and caused a decrease in titratable acidity and syneresis in the kefir samples. Total bacteria, lactobacilli and streptococci counts decreased, while yeast counts increased in all the samples during storage. Alcohols and acids compounds have increased in all the samples except in the control samples, while carbonyl compounds have decreased in all the samples during storage (1-30 d). The differences in the percentage of alcohols, carbonyl compounds and acids in total volatiles on the 1st and the 30th d of storage were observed at 8.47-23.52%, 6.94-25.46% and 59.64-63.69%, respectively. The consumer evaluation of the kefir samples showed that greater levels of acceptability were found for samples which had been added 1.5 U m-TGs for per g of milk protein. PMID:28943774

Effects of Microbial Transglutaminase on Physicochemical, Microbial and Sensorial Properties of Kefir Produced by Using Mixture Cow's and Soymilk.

PubMed

Temiz, Hasan; Dağyıldız, Kübra

2017-01-01

The objective of this research was to investigate the effects microbial transglutaminase (m-TGs) on the physicochemical, microbial and sensory properties of kefir produced by using mix cow and soymilk. Kefir batches were prepared using 0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 Units m-TGs for per g of milk protein. Adding m-TGs to milk caused an increase in the pH and viscosity and caused a decrease in titratable acidity and syneresis in the kefir samples. Total bacteria, lactobacilli and streptococci counts decreased, while yeast counts increased in all the samples during storage. Alcohols and acids compounds have increased in all the samples except in the control samples, while carbonyl compounds have decreased in all the samples during storage (1-30 d). The differences in the percentage of alcohols, carbonyl compounds and acids in total volatiles on the 1st and the 30th d of storage were observed at 8.47-23.52%, 6.94-25.46% and 59.64-63.69%, respectively. The consumer evaluation of the kefir samples showed that greater levels of acceptability were found for samples which had been added 1.5 U m-TGs for per g of milk protein.

Anti-listerial activity of a polymeric film coated with hybrid coatings doped with Enterocin 416K1 for use as bioactive food packaging.

PubMed

Iseppi, Ramona; Pilati, Francesco; Marini, Michele; Toselli, Maurizio; de Niederhäusern, Simona; Guerrieri, Elisa; Messi, Patrizia; Sabia, Carla; Manicardi, Giuliano; Anacarso, Immacolata; Bondi, Moreno

2008-04-30

In this study, Enterocin 416K1, a bacteriocin produced by Enterococcus casseliflavus IM 416K1, was entrapped in an organic-inorganic hybrid coating applied to a LDPE (low-density polyethylene) film for its potential use in the active food packaging field. The antibacterial activity of the coated film was evaluated against Listeria monocytogenes NCTC 10888 by qualitative modified agar diffusion assay, quantitative determination in listeria saline solution suspension and direct contact with artificially contaminated food samples (frankfurters and fresh cheeses) stored at room and refrigeration temperatures. All investigations demonstrated that enterocin-activated coatings have a good anti-listeria activity. Qualitative tests showed a clear zone of inhibition in the indicator lawn in contact with and around the coated film. During the quantitative antibacterial evaluation the L. monocytogenes viable counts decreased to 1.5 log units compared to the control. The inhibitory capability was confirmed also in food-contact assays. In all food samples packed with coated films we observed a significant decrease in L. monocytogenes viable counts in the first 24 h compared to the control. This difference was generally maintained up to the seventh day and then decreased, with the exception of the cheese samples stored at refrigeration temperature.

Weight Stigma Reduction and Genetic Determinism

PubMed Central

Hilbert, Anja

2016-01-01

One major approach to weight stigma reduction consists of decreasing beliefs about the personal controllability of—and responsibility for—obesity by educating about its biogenetic causes. Evidence on the efficacy of this approach is mixed, and it remains unclear whether this would create a deterministic view, potentially leading to detrimental side-effects. Two independent studies from Germany using randomized designs with delayed-intervention control groups served to (1) develop and pilot a brief, interactive stigma reduction intervention to educate N = 128 university students on gene × environment interactions in the etiology of obesity; and to (2) evaluate this intervention in the general population (N = 128) and determine mechanisms of change. The results showed (1) decreased weight stigma and controllability beliefs two weeks post-intervention in a student sample; and (2) decreased internal attributions and increased genetic attributions, knowledge, and deterministic beliefs four weeks post-intervention in a population sample. Lower weight stigma was longitudinally predicted by a decrease in controllability beliefs and an increase in the belief in genetic determinism, especially in women. The results underline the usefulness of a brief, interactive intervention promoting an interactionist view of obesity to reduce weight stigma, at least in the short term, lending support to the mechanisms of change derived from attribution theory. The increase in genetic determinism that occurred despite the intervention’s gene × environment focus had no detrimental side-effect on weight stigma, but instead contributed to its reduction. Further research is warranted on the effects of how biogenetic causal information influences weight management behavior of individuals with obesity. PMID:27631384

Weight Stigma Reduction and Genetic Determinism.

PubMed

Hilbert, Anja

2016-01-01

One major approach to weight stigma reduction consists of decreasing beliefs about the personal controllability of-and responsibility for-obesity by educating about its biogenetic causes. Evidence on the efficacy of this approach is mixed, and it remains unclear whether this would create a deterministic view, potentially leading to detrimental side-effects. Two independent studies from Germany using randomized designs with delayed-intervention control groups served to (1) develop and pilot a brief, interactive stigma reduction intervention to educate N = 128 university students on gene × environment interactions in the etiology of obesity; and to (2) evaluate this intervention in the general population (N = 128) and determine mechanisms of change. The results showed (1) decreased weight stigma and controllability beliefs two weeks post-intervention in a student sample; and (2) decreased internal attributions and increased genetic attributions, knowledge, and deterministic beliefs four weeks post-intervention in a population sample. Lower weight stigma was longitudinally predicted by a decrease in controllability beliefs and an increase in the belief in genetic determinism, especially in women. The results underline the usefulness of a brief, interactive intervention promoting an interactionist view of obesity to reduce weight stigma, at least in the short term, lending support to the mechanisms of change derived from attribution theory. The increase in genetic determinism that occurred despite the intervention's gene × environment focus had no detrimental side-effect on weight stigma, but instead contributed to its reduction. Further research is warranted on the effects of how biogenetic causal information influences weight management behavior of individuals with obesity.

Immunohistochemical and morphometric analysis of intestinal full-thickness biopsy samples from cats with lymphoplasmacytic inflammatory bowel disease.

PubMed

Marsilio, S; Kleinschmidt, S; Nolte, I; Hewicker-Trautwein, M

2014-05-01

The distribution and numbers of CD3(+) T lymphocytes, immunoglobulin(+) plasma cells and calprotectin (L1)(+) macrophages was analyzed in full-thickness, formalin-fixed biopsy samples from the small intestine (duodenum, jejunum and ileum) and from the colon from nine cats with clinical signs of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). All animals had lymphoplasmacytic enteritis or lymphoplasmacytic enterocolitis. Equivalent samples from the same intestinal regions from 12 healthy pet cats served as controls. Labelled cells in the lamina propria were counted by computer-aided morphometry. The different cell types were similarly distributed in both groups, but there were differences in their numbers. There were more CD3(+) T cells in the duodenum and jejunum of cats with IBD; however, the difference was only significant for the duodenum. There were significantly more IgA(+) cells in the duodenal crypt region. There were significantly more IgG(+) cells in the lower jejunal crypt region. Plasma cells expressing IgM were decreased in cats with IBD, but the difference was not significant. L1(+) macrophages were significantly decreased in the lower crypt area of the colon in cats with IBD and there was a trend to decreased L1(+) cells in the upper crypt area of the duodenum and jejunum. Comparison of the results of this study with previous findings on endoscopically-obtained duodenal biopsy samples from cats with IBD revealed some differences. These discrepancies might relate to differences between control cat populations, types of biopsy samples, methodological factors such as different counting techniques and the activity of the disease at the time of sampling. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Determining the relationship between atherosclerosis and periodontopathogenic microorganisms in chronic periodontitis patients.

PubMed

Bozoglan, Alihan; Ertugrul, Abdullah Seckin; Taspınar, Mehmet; Yuzbasioglu, Betul

2017-05-01

The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between atherosclerosis and periodontopathogenic microorganisms in chronic periodontitis patients following periodontal treatment. A total of 40 patients were included in the study. 20 of these patients diagnosed with atherosclerosis and chronic periodontitis formed the test group. The remaining 20 patients were systemically healthy patients diagnosed with chronic periodontitis and formed the control group. All patients had nonsurgical periodontal treatment. The periodontopathogenic microorganism levels were determined at baseline and at 6 months in microbial dental plaque samples and WBC, LDL, HDL, PLT, fibrinogen, creatinine and hs-CRP levels were determined by blood samples. Statistically significant reduction has been achieved in clinical periodontal parameters following non-surgical periodontal treatment in test and control groups. Following periodontal treatment, WBC, LDL, PLT, fibrinogen, creatinine and hs-CRP levels significantly decreased and HDL levels significantly increased in both test and control groups. Similarly, the periodontopathogenic microorganism levels significantly decreased following periodontal treatment in the test and control groups. A statistically significant positive correlation has been determined between the periodontopathogenic microorganism levels and WBC, LDL, PLT, fibrinogen, creatinine, and hs-CRP levels in the test group. The association between hs-CRP, WBC, LDL, PLT, fibrinogen, creatinine, and the amount of periodontopathogenic microorganisms indicates the possibility that periodontal treatment could decrease the risk atherosclerosis. More studies must be conducted in order for these results to be supported.

A virologic pilot study of valacyclovir in infectious mononucleosis.

PubMed

Balfour, Henry H; Hokanson, Kristin M; Schacherer, Robyn M; Fietzer, Christine M; Schmeling, David O; Holman, Carol J; Vezina, Heather E; Brundage, Richard C

2007-05-01

Infectious mononucleosis decreases the productivity of many college students and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection may result in long-term immune damage. Evaluate the antiviral effect of valacyclovir during EBV-related acute infectious mononucleosis and explore potential clinical benefits. University students who presented during the first 7 days of illness were randomized to receive valacyclovir 3g/day for 14 days or not. The quantity of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in oral and whole blood samples was determined by real-time (TaqMan) PCR. The primary outcome was the proportion of subjects with laboratory-confirmed primary EBV infection who had >or=2 log10 decrease in EBV copies/mL in oral washes during the treatment period. Secondary outcomes included clinical effects. Twenty subjects were studied. The proportion of valacyclovir recipients versus control subjects who had >or=2 log10 decrease in EBV copies was significantly greater for both oral wash fluid-derived cell pellet (P=0.03) and supernatant (P=0.001) samples. At the end of the treatment period, the number of reported symptoms (P=0.03) and the severity of illness (P=0.049) were reduced among valacyclovir recipients as compared with controls. Valacyclovir therapy caused a reduction of EBV excretion and possibly produced a clinical benefit in infectious mononucleosis. Because our study was small and not placebo-controlled, these results must be confirmed by a larger, placebo-controlled trial.

Quality characteristics of bread produced from wheat, rice and maize flours.

PubMed

Rai, Sweta; Kaur, Amarjeet; Singh, Baljit; Minhas, K S

2012-12-01

Rice (Oryza sativa) flour and maize (Zea mays) meal substitution in wheat (Triticum aestivum) flour, from 0 to 100% each, for the production of bread was investigated. The proximate analysis, pasting properties, bread making qualities of raw materials and sensory evaluation of the bread samples were determined. The pasting temperature increased with increased percentage of rice flour and maize meal. But the other pasting characters decreased with the higher proportion of rice flour. The baking absorption was observed to increase with higher level of maize meal but it decreased when level of rice flour was increased. Loaf weight (g) decreased with progressive increase in the proportion of maize meal but increased when rice flour incorporation was increased. Loaf volume, loaf height and specific volume decreased for progressively higher level of maize meal and rice flour. The sensory evaluation revealed that 25% replacement of wheat flour was found to be more acceptable than control sample.

Detection of herpes simplex virus and varicella-zoster virus in clinical swabs: frequent inhibition of PCR as determined by internal controls.

PubMed

Bezold, G; Volkenandt, M; Gottlöber, P; Peter, R U

2000-12-01

PCR-based detection of microorganisms is widely used for diagnostic purposes. Most routine PCR applications do not control for inhibition of PCR, thus leading to false-negative results. One hundred eighteen swab samples obtained from skin and mucosa were investigated for the presence of herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), and the control gene betaglobin by internally controlled PCR with purified and unpurified DNA in parallel. With unpurified DNA, inhibition of PCR was detected in 23% of betaglobin PCRs, 25% of VZV PCRs, and 16% of HSV PCRs versus 3% each for purified DNA. Approximately 20% of the samples with positive results for HSV or VZV had negative or inhibited results using unpurified DNA. These results indicate that PCR from clinical swab specimens should be performed exclusively with internal controls because the positive control alone cannot exclude PCR inhibition in individual samples. Purification of DNA will decrease, but not exclude, PCR inhibition.

Effect of active edible coatings made by basil seed gum and thymol on oil uptake and oxidation in shrimp during deep-fat frying.

PubMed

Khazaei, Naimeh; Esmaiili, Mohsen; Emam-Djomeh, Zahra

2016-02-10

The effect of active coating treatments on oil uptake, moisture loss, lipid oxidation, texture, color, and sensory evaluation of shrimp after deep-fat frying process was investigated. Compared with the uncoated samples, coating treatments decreased the oil uptake and moisture loss of fried shrimp by 34.50 and 13.9%, respectively. Fried shrimp samples were analyzed for peroxide value (PV) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA). The most reduction in lipid oxidation (46.4% for PV and 40.8% for TBA) was observed when shrimp samples were coated with CS4 (containing 10% thyme), while the control samples had the highest values of PV and TBA after deep-fat frying process. Coated fried samples had significantly lower toughness and stiffness than control samples (P<0.05). In terms of sensory evaluation, there was no significant difference in color, smell, and taste among the treatments (P>0.05). However, for the texture, juiciness, chewiness, and overall acceptability, coated fried samples had higher scores than control. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Prevalence of doping in sports: doping control in Norway, 1977-1995.

PubMed

Bahr, R; Tjørnhom, M

1998-01-01

To examine the results from doping controls conducted by the Norwegian Confederation of Sport (NCS) from 1977 to 1995. Data were collected by combining three computerized databases and manual records on samples taken and results from analyses in the International Olympic Committee (IOC)-accredited laboratories in London, Huddinge, Cologne, and Oslo. Samples were declared positive if they contained any banned substance on the IOC list that was in effect at any given time. A total of 15,208 samples were taken; most of them (12,870; 85%) were from Norwegian athletes (90% unannounced tests) belonging to national federations under NCS jurisdiction (NCS members), 461 (3%) were from external Norwegian athletes (either users of private gyms or athletes in organized sports federations not affiliated with the NCS), and 1,874 (12%) were from foreign athletes (three cases with unknown affiliation). There were 130 positive samples and 24 refusals among NCS members (1.2%; men, 1.4%; women, 0.3%), 86 positive samples and 8 refusals among external Norwegian athletes (20%; men, 24%; women, 8%), and 39 positive samples and 1 refusal among foreign athletes (1.6%; men, 2.1%; women, 0.7%). A gradual decrease in the percentage of positive samples was observed among NCS members as testing frequency was increased gradually from 1987 to 1995 in the three high-prevalence sports: powerlifting, weightlifting, and athletics. An increase in the test frequency of doping tests was associated with a decrease in the percentage of positive samples in targeted sports.

Six-month trial of bupropion with contingency management for cocaine dependence in a methadone-maintained population.

PubMed

Poling, James; Oliveto, Alison; Petry, Nancy; Sofuoglu, Mehmet; Gonsai, Kishorchandra; Gonzalez, Gerardo; Martell, Bridget; Kosten, Thomas R

2006-02-01

No effective pharmacotherapies exist for cocaine dependence, although contingency management (CM) has demonstrated efficacy. To compare the efficacy of bupropion hydrochloride and CM for reducing cocaine use in methadone hydrochloride-maintained individuals. This 25-week, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial randomly assigned participants to 1 of 4 treatment conditions: CM and placebo (CMP), CM and 300 mg/d of bupropion hydrochloride (CMB), voucher control and placebo (VCP), or voucher control and bupropion (VCB). Outpatient clinic at the Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System. A total of 106 opiate-dependent, cocaine-abusing individuals. All study participants received methadone hydrochloride (range, 60-120 mg). Participants receiving bupropion hydrochloride were given 300 mg/d beginning at week 3. In the CM conditions, each urine sample negative for both opioids and cocaine resulted in a monetary-based voucher that increased for consecutively drug-free urine samples during weeks 1 to 13. Completion of abstinence-related activities also resulted in a voucher. During weeks 14 to 25, only completion of activities was reinforced in the CM group, regardless of sample results. The voucher control groups received vouchers for submitting urine samples, regardless of results, throughout the study. Thrice-weekly urine toxicologic test results for cocaine and heroin. Groups did not differ in baseline characteristics or retention rates. Opiate use decreased significantly, with all treatment groups attaining equivalent amounts of opiate use at the end of the study. In the CMB group, the proportion of cocaine-positive samples significantly decreased during weeks 3 to 13 (P<.001) relative to week 3 and remained low during weeks 14 to 25. In the CMP group, cocaine use significantly increased during weeks 3 to 13 (P<.001) relative to week 3, but then cocaine use significantly decreased relative to the initial slope during weeks 14 to 25 (P<.001). In contrast, by treatment end, the VCB and VCP groups showed no significant improvement in cocaine use. These findings suggest that combining CM with bupropion for the treatment of cocaine addiction may significantly improve outcomes relative to bupropion alone.

Effect of cooling rates on the structure, density and micro-indentation behavior of the Fe, Co-based bulk metallic glass

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lesz, Sabina, E-mail: sabina.lesz@polsl.pl

The experiments demonstrate that ductility of the samples of bulk metallic glass (BMG) with the same chemical composition increased with decreasing sample size. It is shown that microhardness and density increases with decreasing the cooling rate. The fracture morphology of rods after compressive fracture were different on the cross section. Two characteristic features of the compressive fracture morphologies of metallic glasses (MGs) were observed in samples: smooth region and the vein pattern. Many parallel shear bands were observed on the deformed specimen with ϕ = 2 mm in diameter. The results provide more understanding on the relationship among the coolingmore » rate, structure and micro-indentation behavior of the Fe-Co-based BMGs. - Highlights: •Fracture morphology and micro-indentation behavior is studied. •The smaller BMG sample exhibits the larger plasticity. •Microhardness and density increase with decreasing the cooling rate. •Formation of shear bands has been reported in deformed specimens. •Structure and mechanical properties of BMGs can be controlled by the cooling rate.« less

Effects of low-level SO/sub 2/ on Usnes hirta and Parmelia chlorachroa

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eversman, S.

1978-01-01

Respiration rates of Usnea hirta (l.) wigg, and Parmelia chlorochroa tuck exposed in the field to SO/sub 2/ fumigation decreased significantly, compared to control rates, within 30 days at 94 ppB SO/sub 2/ and within 60 days at 33 ppB. Nearly 100% of the algal cells were plasmolyzed within 60 days. The respiration rates of P. chlorochora samples were not significantly different from those of conrol samples after 60 days of exposure to 18 ppB SO/sub 2/. The respiration rates of U. hirta samples were significantly less than those of control samples after 96 days of exposure to 18 ppBmore » SO/sub 2/. A significantly greater percentage of the algal cells were plasmolyzed in U. hirta and P. chlorochroa, compared to control samples, after 31 days of exposure to 18 ppB. Damage to the lichens was more obvious and occurred faster than damage to adjacent vascular vegetation.« less

The effect of essential oils on microbial composition and quality of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) fillets during chilled storage.

PubMed

Huang, Zhan; Liu, Xiaochang; Jia, Shiliang; Zhang, Longteng; Luo, Yongkang

2018-02-02

Antimicrobial and antioxidant effects of essential oils (oregano, thyme, and star anise) on microbial composition and quality of grass carp fillets were investigated. Essential oils treatment was found to be effective in inhibiting microbial growth, delaying lipid oxidation, and retarding the increase of TVB-N, putrescine, hypoxanthine, and K-value. Based on sensory analysis, shelf-life of grass carp fillets was 6days for control and 8days for treatment groups. Among the essential oils, oregano essential oil exhibited the highest antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. GC-MS analysis of essential oils components revealed that carvacrol (88.64%) was the major component of oregano essential oil. According to the results of high-throughput sequencing, Aeromonas, Glutamicibacter, and Aequorivita were the predominant microbiota in fresh control samples. However, oregano essential oil decreased the relative abundance of Aeromonas, while thyme and star anise essential oils decreased the relative abundance of Glutamicibacter and Aequorivita in fresh treated samples. The microbial composition of both control and treatment groups became less diverse as storage time increased. Aeromonas and Pseudomonas were dominant in spoiled samples and contributed to fish spoilage. Compared to the control, essential oils effectively inhibited the growth of Aeromonas and Shewanella in grass carp fillets during chilled storage. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Sampling in quality control of medicinal materials-A case of Epimedium].

PubMed

Wang, Chuanyi; Cao, Jinyi; Liang, Yun; Huang, Wenhua; Guo, Baolin

2009-04-01

To investigate the effect of the different individual number of sampling on the assay results of the medicinal materials. Epimedium pubescens and E. brevicornu were used as samples. The 6 sampling levels were formulated as 1 individual, 5, 10, 20, 30, 50 individuals mix, each level with 3 parallels and 1 individual level5 parallels. The contents of epimedin C and icariin, and the peak areas of epimedin A, epimedin B, rhamnosyl icarisid II and icarisid II in all samples were analyzed by HPLC. The variation degree varied with species and chemical constituents, but the RSD and the deviation from the true value decreased with the increase of individual number on the same chemical constituent. The sampling number should be more than 10 individuals in quality control of Epimedium, and 50 or more individuals would be better for representing the quality of medicinal materials.

Remineralization Property of an Orthodontic Primer Containing a Bioactive Glass with Silver and Zinc

PubMed Central

Lee, Seung-Min; Kim, In-Ryoung; Park, Bong-Soo; Ko, Ching-Chang; Son, Woo-Sung; Kim, Yong-Il

2017-01-01

White spot lesions (WSLs) are irreversible damages in orthodontic treatment due to excessive etching or demineralization by microorganisms. In this study, we conducted a mechanical and cell viability test to examine the antibacterial properties of 0.2% and 1% bioactive glass (BAG) and silver-doped and zinc-doped BAGs in a primer and evaluated their clinical applicability to prevent WSLs. The microhardness statistically significantly increased in the adhesive-containing BAG, while the other samples showed no statistically significant difference compared with the control group. The shear bond strength of all samples increased compared with that of the control group. The cell viability of the control and sample groups was similar within 24 h, but decreased slightly over 48 h. All samples showed antibacterial properties. Regarding remineralization property, the group containing 0.2% of the samples showed remineralization properties compared with the control group, but was not statistically significant; further, the group containing 1% of the samples showed a significant difference compared with the control group. Among them, the orthodontic bonding primer containing 1% silver-doped BAG showed the highest remineralization property. The new orthodontic bonding primer used in this study showed an antimicrobial effect, chemical remineralization effect, and WSL prevention as well as clinically applicable properties, both physically and biologically. PMID:29088092

A level change in mutagenicity of Japanese tap water over the past 12 yr.

PubMed

Takanashi, Hirokazu; Kishida, Misako; Nakajima, Tsunenori; Ohki, Akira; Akiba, Michihiro

2011-05-01

A relative comparison study of mutagenicity in Japanese tap water was conducted for 1993 and 2005 surveys. It intended to assess the effects of advanced water treatment installations to water works, improvement of raw water quality and improvement of residual HOCl concentration controlling. Sampling points (taps) were the same in both surveys. The results of 245 samples obtained by the Ames Salmonella mutagenicity test (Ames test) were analyzed. The Ames tests were conducted by using Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 strains with and without exogenous activation (S9). With the exception of TA100-S9, the other conditions needed no discussion as a factor in the mutagenicity level change. The average mutagenicity in 1993 and 2005 under the conditions of TA100-S9 were 2600 and 1100 net revertantL(-1), respectively. This indicated that the mutagenicity level of Japanese tap water decreased during the 12-yr period. Particularly a remarkable decrease in mutagenicity was observed in the water works where the advanced water treatments were installed during the 12-yr period. The advanced water treatments were effective in decreasing the mutagenicity of tap water. Mutagenicity also decreased in the water works with conventional water treatments; the improvement of residual HOCl concentration controlling was also considered to be effective in decreasing the mutagenicity of tap water. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The fate of wastewater-derived NDMA precursors in the aquatic environment.

PubMed

Pehlivanoglu-Mantas, Elif; Sedlak, David L

2006-03-01

To assess the stability of precursors of the chloramine disinfection byproduct N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) under conditions expected in effluent-dominated surface waters, effluent samples from four municipal wastewater treatment plants were subjected to chlorination and chloramination followed by incubation in the presence of inocula derived from activated sludge. Samples subjected to free chlorine disinfection showed lower initial concentrations of NDMA precursors than those that were not chlorinated or were disinfected with pre-formed chloramines. For chloraminated and control (unchlorinated) treatments, the concentration of NDMA precursors decreased by an average of 24% over the 30-day incubation in samples from three of the four facilities. At the fourth facility, where samples were collected on three different days, NDMA precursor concentrations decreased by approximately 80% in one sample and decreased by less than 20% in the other two samples. In contrast to the low reactivity of the NDMA precursors, NDMA disappeared within 30 days under the conditions employed in these experiments. These results and measurements made in an effluent-dominated river suggest that although NDMA may be removed after wastewater effluent is discharged, wastewater-derived NDMA precursors could persist long enough to form significant concentrations of NDMA in drinking water treatment plants that use water originating from sources that are subjected to wastewater effluent discharges.

Why Does a Universal Anti-Bullying Program Not Help All Children? Explaining Persistent Victimization During an Intervention.

PubMed

Kaufman, Tessa M L; Kretschmer, Tina; Huitsing, Gijs; Veenstra, René

2018-04-30

Although anti-bullying interventions are often effective, some children continue to be victimized. To increase knowledge of potential factors that might impede children's benefiting from an anti-bullying intervention, we examined potential reasons for individual differences in victimization trajectories during a group-based anti-bullying intervention. Data stem from a five-wave survey among 9122 children (7-12 years old; grades 2-5) who participated in the KiVa anti-bullying intervention (n = 6142) or were in control schools (n = 2980 children). Three trajectories were found in the intervention sample, representing children who experienced stable high, decreasing, or stable low/no victimization. A two-trajectory model of high and low trajectories represented the control sample best. Multinomial regressions on the intervention sample showed that children who experienced particularly high levels of peer rejection, internalizing problems, and lower quality parent-child relationships decreased less in victimization; thus these characteristics appeared to contribute to persistent victimization. The results call for tailored strategies in interventions aiming to reduce victimization for more children.

The effects of cognitive-behavioral therapy on depression, anger, and self-control for Korean soldiers.

PubMed

Hyun, Myung-Sun; Chung, Hyang-In C; De Gagne, Jennie C; Kang, Hee Sun

2014-02-01

This quasi-experimental study examined the effects of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to control depression, anger, and self-control in soldiers from South Korea. Using a pretest-posttest design, the sample was composed of an experimental group (n = 16) and a control group (n = 12). The experimental group participated in four sessions of CBT. No significant differences were found between the groups with regard to demographic characteristics. Changes in the variables after the intervention were analyzed using Wilcoxon's signed-rank sum test. The depression scores decreased significantly after the intervention (z = -3.05, p = 0.002); whereas, the scores of state-trait anger and self-control did not change. In the control group, none of the outcome variable scores changed significantly. The results indicate that the developed CBT program might be an effective modality to decrease the depression of soldiers who are in military service. Copyright 2014, SLACK Incorporated.

Effect of ultrasonic vibration time on the Cu/Sn-Ag-Cu/Cu joint soldered by low-power-high-frequency ultrasonic-assisted reflow soldering.

PubMed

Tan, Ai Ting; Tan, Ai Wen; Yusof, Farazila

2017-01-01

Techniques to improve solder joint reliability have been the recent research focus in the electronic packaging industry. In this study, Cu/SAC305/Cu solder joints were fabricated using a low-power high-frequency ultrasonic-assisted reflow soldering approach where non-ultrasonic-treated samples were served as control sample. The effect of ultrasonic vibration (USV) time (within 6s) on the solder joint properties was characterized systematically. Results showed that the solder matrix microstructure was refined at 1.5s of USV, but coarsen when the USV time reached 3s and above. The solder matrix hardness increased when the solder matrix was refined, but decreased when the solder matrix coarsened. The interfacial intermetallic compound (IMC) layer thickness was found to decrease with increasing USV time, except for the USV-treated sample with 1.5s. This is attributed to the insufficient USV time during the reflow stage and consequently accelerated the Cu dissolution at the joint interface during the post-ultrasonic reflow stage. All the USV-treated samples possessed higher shear strength than the control sample due to the USV-induced-degassing effect. The shear strength of the USV-treated sample with 6s was the lowest among the USV-treated samples due to the formation of plate-like Ag 3 Sn that may act as the crack initiation site. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Could cryopreserved human semen samples be stored at -80°C?

PubMed Central

Vaz, Carlos R; Lamim, Tamara; Salvador, Rafael A; Batschauer, Anna P B; Amaral, Vera Lucia L; Til, David

2018-01-01

Objective To evaluate storage time effects in cryopreserved human semen samples, kept in the freezer at a controlled temperature of -80°C, on sperm viability after thawing. Methods We used 20 semen samples. Each sample was cryopreserved in 10 fingers, which were divided into five groups: one group was kept in cryogenic canisters throughout the experiment(control), and four groups were kept in a VIP Ultra Low MDF-U76V- PE freezer, with the temperature set at -80°C, for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours, respectively. After the exposure time, the samples were stored in cryogenic canisters after being thawed. The analyzed parameters were: motility, vitality and mitochondrial activity. Results After thawing, we noticed decreased sperm motility, vitality and mitochondrial activity, when comparing the tested groups with the control group, as well as a progressive reduction in the analyzed parameters between the times evaluated. Conclusions Cryopreservation of semen samples at -80°C is potentially harmful to sperm viability, causing damage when submitted to longer exposure times. PMID:29338138

Indicator organisms in meat and poultry slaughter operations: their potential use in process control and the role of emerging technologies.

PubMed

Saini, Parmesh K; Marks, Harry M; Dreyfuss, Moshe S; Evans, Peter; Cook, L Victor; Dessai, Uday

2011-08-01

Measuring commonly occurring, nonpathogenic organisms on poultry products may be used for designing statistical process control systems that could result in reductions of pathogen levels. The extent of pathogen level reduction that could be obtained from actions resulting from monitoring these measurements over time depends upon the degree of understanding cause-effect relationships between processing variables, selected output variables, and pathogens. For such measurements to be effective for controlling or improving processing to some capability level within the statistical process control context, sufficiently frequent measurements would be needed to help identify processing deficiencies. Ultimately the correct balance of sampling and resources is determined by those characteristics of deficient processing that are important to identify. We recommend strategies that emphasize flexibility, depending upon sampling objectives. Coupling the measurement of levels of indicator organisms with practical emerging technologies and suitable on-site platforms that decrease the time between sample collections and interpreting results would enhance monitoring process control.

Evaluation of nonpoint-source contamination, Wisconsin; selected streamwater-quality data, land-use and best-management practices inventory, and quality assurance and quality control, water year 1993

USGS Publications Warehouse

Corsi, Steven R.; Walker, John F.; Graczyk, D.J.; Greb, S.R.; Owens, D.W.; Rappold, K.F.

1995-01-01

A special study was done to determine the effect of holding time on fecal coliform colony counts. A linear regression indicated that the mean decrease in colony counts over 72 hours was 8.2 percent per day. Results after 24 hours showed that colony counts increased in some samples and decreased in others.

Designing Case-Control Studies: Decisions About the Controls

PubMed Central

Hodge, Susan E.; Subaran, Ryan L.; Weissman, Myrna M.; Fyer, Abby J.

2014-01-01

The authors quantified, first, the effect of misclassified controls (i.e., individuals who are affected with the disease under study but who are classified as controls) on the ability of a case-control study to detect an association between a disease and a genetic marker, and second, the effect of leaving misclassified controls in the study, as opposed to removing them (thus decreasing sample size). The authors developed an informativeness measure of a study’s ability to identify real differences between cases and controls. They then examined this measure’s behavior when there are no misclassified controls, when there are misclassified controls, and when there were misclassified controls but they have been removed from the study. The results show that if, for example, 10% of controls are misclassified, the study’s informativeness is reduced to approximately 81% of what it would have been in a sample with no misclassified controls, whereas if these misclassified controls are removed from the study, the informativeness is only reduced to about 90%, despite the reduced sample size. If 25% are misclassified, those figures become approximately 56% and 75%, respectively. Thus, leaving the misclassified controls in the control sample is worse than removing them altogether. Finally, the authors illustrate how insufficient power is not necessarily circumvented by having an unlimited number of controls. The formulas provided by the authors enable investigators to make rational decisions about removing misclassified controls or leaving them in. PMID:22854929

Potentiometric determination of trypsin using a polymeric membrane polycation-sensitive electrode based on current-controlled reagent delivery.

PubMed

Chen, Yan; Ding, Jiawang; Qin, Wei

2012-12-01

A potentiometric biosensor for the determination of trypsin is described based on current-controlled reagent delivery. A polymeric membrane protamine-sensitive electrode with dinonylnaphthalene sulfonate as cation exchanger is used for in situ generation of protamine. Diffusion of protamine across the polymeric membrane can be controlled precisely by applying an external current. The hydrolysis catalyzed with trypsin in sample solution decreases the concentration of free protamine released at the sample-membrane interface and facilitates the stripping of protamine out of the membrane surface via the ion-exchange process with sodium ions from the sample solution, thus decreasing the membrane potential, by which the protease can be sensed potentiometrically. The influences of anodic current amplitude, current pulse duration and protamine concentration in the inner filling solution on the membrane potential response have been studied. Under optimum conditions, the proposed protamine-sensitive electrode is useful for continuous and reversible detection of trypsin over the concentration range of 0.5-5UmL(-1) with a detection limit of 0.3UmL(-1). The proposed detection strategy provides a rapid and reagentless way for the detection of protease activities and offers great potential in the homogeneous immunoassays using proteases as labels. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Changes of erythrocyte-metric parameters in Pelophylax ridibundus (Amphibia: Anura: Ranidae) inhabiting water bodies with different types of anthropogenic pollution in Southern Bulgaria.

PubMed

Zhelev, Zhivko; Popgeorgiev, Georgi; Ivanov, Ivan; Boyadzhiev, Peter

2017-07-01

The article presents the basic erythrocyte-metric parameters: cell length (EL) and width (EW), EL/EW, erythrocyte size (ES), nucleus length (NL) and width (NW), NL/NW, nucleus size (NS) and nucleocytoplasmic ratio (NS/ES) in the wild populations of marsh frogs Pelophylax ridibundus from five water bodies in Southern Bulgaria (two rivers and three reservoirs) with different degrees and types of anthropogenic pollution (less disrupted water basins, domestic sewage pollution and heavy metal pollution). The changes in erythrocyte-metric parameters depend on concentrations and types of toxicant and, to a lesser extent, on the type of water basin. We found that when P. ridibundus populations live in conditions of domestic sewage pollution, EL, EW and ES increase in comparison with the control samples, with regard to an elongated elliptical cell shape. Simultaneously, NL, NW and NS did not undergo any significant changes when compared with the control samples. The nuclei had elliptical shape. In the populations from the water basins with heavy metal pollution, EL, EW, ES, NL, NW and NS decreased. The cells and nuclei had a circular shape. NS/ES decreased when compared with the control sample, regardless of the type of toxicants.

Community differentiation of the cutaneous microbiota in psoriasis.

PubMed

Alekseyenko, Alexander V; Perez-Perez, Guillermo I; De Souza, Aieska; Strober, Bruce; Gao, Zhan; Bihan, Monika; Li, Kelvin; Methé, Barbara A; Blaser, Martin J

2013-12-23

Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the skin. We sought to characterize and compare the cutaneous microbiota of psoriatic lesions (lesion group), unaffected contralateral skin from psoriatic patients (unaffected group), and similar skin loci in matched healthy controls (control group) in order to discern patterns that govern skin colonization and their relationship to clinical diagnosis. Using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we assayed the cutaneous bacterial communities of 51 matched triplets and characterized these samples using community data analysis techniques. Intragroup Unifrac β diversity revealed increasing diversity from control to unaffected to lesion specimens. Likewise, principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) revealed separation of the lesion samples from unaffected and control along the first axis, suggesting that psoriasis is a major contributor to the observed diversity. The taxonomic richness and evenness decreased in both lesion and unaffected communities compared to control. These differences are explained by the combined increased abundance of the four major skin-associated genera (Corynebacterium, Propionibacterium, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus), which present a potentially useful predictor for clinical skin type. Psoriasis samples also showed significant univariate decreases in relative abundances and strong classification performance of Cupriavidus, Flavisolibacter, Methylobacterium, and Schlegelella genera versus controls. The cutaneous microbiota separated into two distinct clusters, which we call cutaneotypes: (1) Proteobacteria-associated microbiota, and (2) Firmicutes-associated and Actinobacteria-associated microbiota. Cutaneotype 2 is enriched in lesion specimens compared to control (odds ratio 3.52 (95% CI 1.44 to 8.98), P <0.01). Our results indicate that psoriasis induces physiological changes both at the lesion site and at the systemic level, which select for specific differential microbiota among the assayed clinical skin types. These differences in microbial community structure in psoriasis patients are potentially of pathophysiologic and diagnostic significance.

Electrical conductivity and magnetic field dependent current-voltage characteristics of nanocrystalline nickel ferrite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghosh, P.; Bhowmik, R. N.; Das, M. R.; Mitra, P.

2017-04-01

We have studied the grain size dependent electrical conductivity, dielectric relaxation and magnetic field dependent current voltage (I - V) characteristics of nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) . The material has been synthesized by sol-gel self-combustion technique, followed by ball milling at room temperature in air environment to control the grain size. The material has been characterized using X-ray diffraction (refined with MAUD software analysis) and Transmission electron microscopy. Impedance spectroscopy and I - V characteristics in the presence of variable magnetic fields have confirmed the increase of resistivity for the fine powdered samples (grain size 5.17±0.6 nm), resulted from ball milling of the chemical routed sample. Activation energy of the material for electrical charge hopping process has increased with the decrease of grain size by mechanical milling of chemical routed sample. The I - V curves showed many highly non-linear and irreversible electrical features, e.g., I - V loop and bi-stable electronic states (low resistance state-LRS and high resistance state-HRS) on cycling the electrical bias voltage direction during I-V curve measurement. The electrical dc resistance for the chemically routed (without milled) sample in HRS (∼3.4876×104 Ω) at 20 V in presence of magnetic field 10 kOe has enhanced to ∼3.4152×105 Ω for the 10 h milled sample. The samples exhibited an unusual negative differential resistance (NDR) effect that gradually decreased on decreasing the grain size of the material. The magneto-resistance of the samples at room temperature has been found substantially large (∼25-65%). The control of electrical charge transport properties under magnetic field, as observed in the present ferrimagnetic material, indicate the magneto-electric coupling in the materials and the results could be useful in spintronics applications.

Got Milk? Breastfeeding and Milk Analysis of a Mother on Chronic Hemodialysis

PubMed Central

Balzer, Michael S.; Gross, Mechthild M.; Lichtinghagen, Ralf; Haller, Hermann; Schmitt, Roland

2015-01-01

Purpose Women on dialysis rarely become pregnant. However, the overall rate of successful pregnancies is increasing in this patient population and breastfeeding becomes an option for mothers on dialysis. In this study we performed a systematic breast milk composition analysis of a mother on chronic hemodialysis (HD). Methods Specimens of breast milk and blood were collected in regular intervals before and after HD from a 39-year old woman starting on day 10 postpartum. Samples were analyzed for electrolytes, retention solutes, nutrients and other laboratory measurements. Breast milk samples from low-risk mothers matched for postpartum age were used as controls. Results Significantly higher levels of creatinine and urea were found in pre-HD breast milk when compared to post-HD. A similar post-dialytic decrease was only found for uric acid but not for any other investigated parameter. Conversely, sodium and chloride were significantly increased in post-HD samples. Compared to controls creatinine and urea were significantly higher in pre-HD samples while the difference remained only significant for post-HD creatinine. Phosphate was significantly lower in pre- and post-HD breast milk when compared to controls, whereas calcium showed no significant differences. In terms of nutrient components glucose levels showed a strong trend for a decrease, whereas protein, triglycerides and cholesterol did not differ. Similarly, no significant differences were found in iron, potassium and magnesium content. Conclusion To the best of our knowledge this is the first report on a breastfeeding mother on chronic dialysis. Although we found differences in creatinine, urea, sodium, chloride and phosphate, our general analysis showed high similarity of our patient’s breast milk to samples from low-risk control mothers. Significant variations in breast milk composition between pre- and post-HD samples suggest that breastfeeding might be preferably performed after dialysis treatment. In summary, our findings indicate that breastfeeding can be considered a viable option for newborns of mothers on dialysis. PMID:26571490

[Western area surge for controlling Ebola hemorrhagic fever outbreak in Sierra Leone and evaluation of its effect].

PubMed

Chen, Yong; Wu, Dan; Zhang, Wenyi; Chen, Zeliang; Chang, Guohui; Tian, Shuguang; Yang, Ruifu; Liu, Chao

2015-10-01

To investigate the Western Area Surge (WAS) program in the Ebola outbreak of Sierra Leone, and to analyze its implementing effect. The subject of this study was 3,813 laboratory confirmed Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) cases reported in Sierra Leone from November 19, 2014 through January 27, 2015, a period before and after the implementation of the WAS program. To analyze and make conclusions according to the working experience of China Mobile Laboratory Reponses Team in the fight of Ebola outbreak, using WHO published EHF case definition to make diagnosis and compare the number of bed numbers, confirmed EHF cases, samples tested, and positive rates before and after implementation of WAS program. From the implementation of WAS program on 17th December 2014 to half a month later, the total numbers of Ebola holding and treatment centers increased from 640 to 960, six additional laboratories were established. On January, 2015, another two laboratories from America and The Netherlands were established. The numbers of samples tested one month before and after WAS program were 7,891 and 9,783, respectively, with an increase of 24.0 percent, while the positive rate of Ebola virus decreased from 22.2% (1,752/7,891) to 11.0% (1,077/9,783). The positive rate of blood samples decreased from 39.6% (248/626) in the month before WAS program to 27.4% (131/478) (χ2=17.93, P<0.001) in the mother after WAS program, the positive rate of blood samples 22.7% (103/454) to 10% (62/609) (χ2=31.03, P<0.001), accordingly. After 3 weeks of WAS program, in addition to Western Area, another four hotspots in Sierra Leone had also reported a significant decrease of the numbers of confirmed EVD cases. Forty-two days after implementation of WAS program, the daily number of laboratory confirmed EHF cases decreased from 63 to 10. WAS program played a vital role in controlling the EHF outbreak rapidly in Sierra Leone. It could also provide guidance for the control similar large infectious diseases outbreak in the future.

Evaluation of Vitality in the Experimental Hanging Model of Rats by Using Immunohistochemical IL-1β Antibody Staining.

PubMed

Balandiz, Hüseyin; Pehlivan, Sultan; Çiçek, Ali Fuat; Tuğcu, Harun

2015-12-01

Hanging is the most common suicide method in the world, and the discrimination of antemortem-postmortem hanging must be done at autopsy. The aim of this experimental study was to examine the immunohistochemical expression of IL-1β antibody at the hanging mark skin samples of rats to discriminate antemortem and postmortem hangings. A total of 20 Wistar albino rats were used for this study. The groups were as follows: A-1, antemortem control group; A-2, antemortem second-hour hanging mark skin samples; A-3, antemortem 24th-hour hanging mark skin samples; A-4, antemortem 72nd-hour hanging mark skin samples; B-1, postmortem control group; and B-2, postmortem second-hour hanging mark skin samples. Interleukin-1β immunostaining was performed to all tissue samples. For epidermal cells, group A-1 samples did not show IL-1β immunostaining, group A-2 samples were severely immunostained, and groups A-3 and A-4 samples' staining were slightly decreased. There was no IL-1β antibody staining in groups B-1 and B-2 samples. For adnexal cells, groups A-1 and B-1 samples did not show IL-1β immunostaining, staining of group A-2 samples was mild to severe, and groups A-3 and A-4 samples' staining were slightly decreased. Half of the group B-2 samples did not show IL-1β immunostaining. For subepidermal cells, most of the samples of groups A-1 and B-1 showed slight immunostaining, groups A-2 and B-2 samples' staining were mild to severe, and there were slight immunostaining in groups A-3 and A-4 samples. The majority of vascular structure cells did not show IL-1β immunostaining. Interleukin-1β immunostaining of epidermal cells can discriminate antemortem-postmortem hangings, but vascular structure cells and subepidermal cells cannot discriminate vital hangings.

Antidiabetic Potential of Kefir Combination from Goat Milk and Soy Milk in Rats Induced with Streptozotocin-Nicotinamide.

PubMed

Nurliyani; Harmayani, Eni; Sunarti

2015-01-01

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of kefir combination from goat milk and soy milk on lipid profile, plasma glucose, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and the improvement of pancreatic β-cell in diabetic rats. Male rats were divided into five treatments: normal control, diabetic control, goat milk kefir, combination of goat milk-soy milk kefir and soy milk kefir. All rats were induced by streptooztocin-nicotinamide (STZ-NA), except for normal control. After 35 d experiment, the rats were sampled for blood, sacrificed and sampled for pancreatic tissues. Results showed that diabetic rats fed kefir combination had higher (p<0.05) triglyceride than the rats fed goat milk or soy milk kefir. Decreasing of plasma glucose in diabetic rats fed kefir combination was higher (p<0.05) than rats fed goat millk kefir. The activity of GPx in diabetic rats fed three kinds of kefir were higher (p<0.01) than untreated diabetic rats. The average number of Langerhans and β-cells in diabetic rats fed kefir combination was the same as the normal control, but it was higher than diabetic control. It was concluded that kefir combination can be used as antidiabetic through maintaining in serum triglyceride, decreasing in plasma glucose, increasing in GPx activity and improving in pancreatic β-cells.

The effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on postural control in patients with chronic low back pain.

PubMed

Rojhani-Shirazi, Z; Rezaeian, T

2015-01-01

Objective: The effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on postural control in patients with low back pain which is not well known. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of TENS on postural control in chronic low back pain. Methods: This study was an experimental research design. Twenty-eight patients with chronic LBP (25-45 Y/ O) participated and by using a random allocation, were divided to samples who participated in this study. The mean center of pressure (COP) velocity and displacement were measured before, immediately and 30 min after the intervention. The tests were done with eyes open and closed on a force platform. Sensory electrical stimulation was applied through the TENS device. The descriptive statistics, independent sample T-test and ANOVA with repeated measurement on time were used for data analysis. Results: The results of the present study demonstrated that the application of the sensory electrical stimulation in chronic LBP patients showed a statistically significant improvement in postural control in Medio-lateral direction with no corresponding effect on the anterior-posterior direction immediately following the TENS application and 30 minutes after it in closed eyes conditions as compared to baseline. The application of TENS decreased the displacement and velocity of COP (p≤0.05), 30 minutes after the application of sensory electrical stimulation. The results showed that the mean displacement and velocity of COP decreased in eyes open position (p≤0.05). Also, immediately and 30 minutes after the application of sensory electrical stimulation, COP displacement and velocity in ML direction with eyes closed significantly decreased in the intervention group in comparison with control group (p≤0.05). Conclusion: The application of TENS in patients with chronic low back pain could improve postural control in these patients.

The effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on postural control in patients with chronic low back pain

PubMed Central

Rojhani-Shirazi, Z; Rezaeian, T

2015-01-01

Objective: The effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on postural control in patients with low back pain which is not well known. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of TENS on postural control in chronic low back pain. Methods: This study was an experimental research design. Twenty-eight patients with chronic LBP (25-45 Y/ O) participated and by using a random allocation, were divided to samples who participated in this study. The mean center of pressure (COP) velocity and displacement were measured before, immediately and 30 min after the intervention. The tests were done with eyes open and closed on a force platform. Sensory electrical stimulation was applied through the TENS device. The descriptive statistics, independent sample T-test and ANOVA with repeated measurement on time were used for data analysis. Results: The results of the present study demonstrated that the application of the sensory electrical stimulation in chronic LBP patients showed a statistically significant improvement in postural control in Medio-lateral direction with no corresponding effect on the anterior-posterior direction immediately following the TENS application and 30 minutes after it in closed eyes conditions as compared to baseline. The application of TENS decreased the displacement and velocity of COP (p≤0.05), 30 minutes after the application of sensory electrical stimulation. The results showed that the mean displacement and velocity of COP decreased in eyes open position (p≤0.05). Also, immediately and 30 minutes after the application of sensory electrical stimulation, COP displacement and velocity in ML direction with eyes closed significantly decreased in the intervention group in comparison with control group (p≤0.05). Conclusion: The application of TENS in patients with chronic low back pain could improve postural control in these patients. PMID:28255392

Linagliptin prevents atrial electrical and structural remodeling in a canine model of atrial fibrillation.

PubMed

Igarashi, Tazuru; Niwano, Shinichi; Niwano, Hiroe; Yoshizawa, Tomoharu; Nakamura, Hironori; Fukaya, Hidehira; Fujiishi, Tamami; Ishizue, Naruya; Satoh, Akira; Kishihara, Jun; Murakami, Masami; Ako, Junya

2018-05-02

Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors have recently been reported to exhibit additional cardioprotective effects; however, their effect in atrial remodeling, such as in atrial fibrillation (AF), remains unclear. In this study, the effect of linagliptin on atrial electrical and structural remodeling was evaluated in a canine AF model. Sixteen beagle dogs with 3-week atrial rapid stimulation were divided into the linagliptin group (9 mg/kg/day, n = 8) and pacing control group (n = 8). Three additional dogs without rapid pacing were assigned into non-pacing group, which was used as sham in this study. In the dogs with rapid pacing, the atrial effective refractory period (AERP), conduction velocity (CV), and AF inducibility were evaluated and blood was sampled every week. After the entire protocol, atrial tissue was sampled for histological examinations using HE, Azan, and dihydroethidium (DHE) staining to evaluate any tissue damage or oxidative stress. The pacing control group exhibited a gradual AERP shortening and CV decrease along the time course as previously reported. In the linagliptin group, the AERP shortening was not affected, but the CV decrease was suppressed in comparison to the control group (p < 0.05). The AF inducibility was increased in the control group and suppressed in the linagliptin group (p < 0.05). The control group exhibited tissue fibrosis, the degree of which was suppressed in the linagliptin group. DHE staining exhibited suppression of the reactive oxygen species expression in the linagliptin group in comparison to the pacing control group. Linagliptin, a DPP-4-inhibitor, suppressed the AF inducibility, CV decrease, and overexpression of oxidative stress in the canine AF model. Such suppressive effects of linagliptin on AF in the canine model may possibly be related to the anti-oxidative effect.

Effects of Jerusalem Artichoke Powder and Sodium Carbonate as Phosphate Replacers on the Quality Characteristics of Emulsified Chicken Meatballs

PubMed Central

2018-01-01

Today incorporation of natural ingredients as inorganic phosphate replacers has come into prominence as a novel research topic due to health concerns about phosphates. In this study, we aimed to investigate the quality of emulsified chicken meatballs produced with Jerusalem artichoke powder (JAP), either alone or in combination with sodium carbonate (SC) as sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) replacers. The results showed that naturally dried JAP showed favorable technological properties in terms of water-oil binding and gelling. Emulsion batters formulated with JAP-SC mixture showed lower jelly and fat separation, higher water-holding capacity and higher emulsion stability than control samples with STPP. In final product, incorporation of JAP-SC mixture increased moisture and reduced lipid and energy values, and kept the pH value similar to control. Added JAP lead to increments in b* values whereas decreases L* values. Cook yield was similar to control in phosphate-free samples formulated with JAP-SC mix. Either low or medium ratios of JAP in combination with SC managed to protect most of the sensory parameters, while sensory scores tend to decrease in samples containing high levels of JAP. Addition of JAP to formulations presented samples that have equivalent behavior to phosphates in terms of lipid oxidation. In conclusion, our study confirms that utilization of JAP in combination with SC had promising effects as phosphate replacers by presenting natural solutions and providing equivalent quality to standard phosphate containing products. PMID:29725222

Effects of Jerusalem Artichoke Powder and Sodium Carbonate as Phosphate Replacers on the Quality Characteristics of Emulsified Chicken Meatballs.

PubMed

Öztürk, Burcu; Serdaroğlu, Meltem

2018-02-01

Today incorporation of natural ingredients as inorganic phosphate replacers has come into prominence as a novel research topic due to health concerns about phosphates. In this study, we aimed to investigate the quality of emulsified chicken meatballs produced with Jerusalem artichoke powder (JAP), either alone or in combination with sodium carbonate (SC) as sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) replacers. The results showed that naturally dried JAP showed favorable technological properties in terms of water-oil binding and gelling. Emulsion batters formulated with JAP-SC mixture showed lower jelly and fat separation, higher water-holding capacity and higher emulsion stability than control samples with STPP. In final product, incorporation of JAP-SC mixture increased moisture and reduced lipid and energy values, and kept the pH value similar to control. Added JAP lead to increments in b* values whereas decreases L* values. Cook yield was similar to control in phosphate-free samples formulated with JAP-SC mix. Either low or medium ratios of JAP in combination with SC managed to protect most of the sensory parameters, while sensory scores tend to decrease in samples containing high levels of JAP. Addition of JAP to formulations presented samples that have equivalent behavior to phosphates in terms of lipid oxidation. In conclusion, our study confirms that utilization of JAP in combination with SC had promising effects as phosphate replacers by presenting natural solutions and providing equivalent quality to standard phosphate containing products.

A high-damping magnetorheological elastomer with bi-directional magnetic-control modulus for potential application in seismology

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yu, Miao, E-mail: yumiao@cqu.edu.cn; Qi, Song; Fu, Jie

A high-damping magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) with bi-directional magnetic-control modulus is developed. This MRE was synthesized by filling NdFeB particles into polyurethane (PU)/ epoxy (EP) interpenetrating network (IPN) structure. The anisotropic samples were prepared in a permanent magnetic field and magnetized in an electromagnetic field of 1 T. Dynamic mechanical responses of the MRE to applied magnetic fields are investigated through magneto-rheometer, and morphology of MREs is observed via scanning electron microscope (SEM). Test result indicates that when the test field orientation is parallel to that of the sample's magnetization, the shear modulus of sample increases. On the other hand, when themore » orientation is opposite to that of the sample's magnetization, shear modulus decreases. In addition, this PU/EP IPN matrix based MRE has a high-damping property, with high loss factor and can be controlled by applying magnetic field. It is expected that the high damping property and the ability of bi-directional magnetic-control modulus of this MRE offer promising advantages in seismologic application.« less

Drug Loading Capacity of Environmentally Sensitive Polymeric Microgels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McDonough, Ryan; Streletzky, Kiril; Bayachou, Mekki; Peiris, Pubudu

2009-10-01

Microgel nanoparticles consisting of cross-linked polymer hydroxypropyl cellulose chains have a temperature dependent volume phase transition, prompting the use of microgels for controlled drug transport. Drug particles aggregate in the slightly hydrophobic interior of microgels. Microgels are stored in equilibrium until the critical temperature (Tv) is reached and the volume phase transition limits available space, thus expelling the drugs. Our study was designed to test this property of microgels using amperometric electrochemical methods. A critical assumption was that small molecules inside microgels would not interact via diffusion with the electrode surface and thus total current would be decreased across the electrodes in a microgel sample. A room temperature (Troom) flow amperometric measurement comparing microgel/tylenol solution with control tylenol samples yielded about 20% tylenol concentration reduction of the microgel sample. Results from the steady state electrochemical experiment confirm the presence of about 20% tylenol concentration drop of the microgel sample compared to control sample at Troom. Using the steady-state experiment with a cyclic temperature ramp from Troom to beyond Tv showed that the tylenol concentration change between the temperature extremes was greater for the microgel solution than for the control solution.

Evaluation of needle trap micro-extraction and automatic alveolar sampling for point-of-care breath analysis.

PubMed

Trefz, Phillip; Rösner, Lisa; Hein, Dietmar; Schubert, Jochen K; Miekisch, Wolfram

2013-04-01

Needle trap devices (NTDs) have shown many advantages such as improved detection limits, reduced sampling time and volume, improved stability, and reproducibility if compared with other techniques used in breath analysis such as solid-phase extraction and solid-phase micro-extraction. Effects of sampling flow (2-30 ml/min) and volume (10-100 ml) were investigated in dry gas standards containing hydrocarbons, aldehydes, and aromatic compounds and in humid breath samples. NTDs contained (single-bed) polymer packing and (triple-bed) combinations of divinylbenzene/Carbopack X/Carboxen 1000. Substances were desorbed from the NTDs by means of thermal expansion and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. An automated CO2-controlled sampling device for direct alveolar sampling at the point-of-care was developed and tested in pilot experiments. Adsorption efficiency for small volatile organic compounds decreased and breakthrough increased when sampling was done with polymer needles from a water-saturated matrix (breath) instead from dry gas. Humidity did not affect analysis with triple-bed NTDs. These NTDs showed only small dependencies on sampling flow and low breakthrough from 1-5 %. The new sampling device was able to control crucial parameters such as sampling flow and volume. With triple-bed NTDs, substance amounts increased linearly with increasing sample volume when alveolar breath was pre-concentrated automatically. When compared with manual sampling, automatic sampling showed comparable or better results. Thorough control of sampling and adequate choice of adsorption material is mandatory for application of needle trap micro-extraction in vivo. The new CO2-controlled sampling device allows direct alveolar sampling at the point-of-care without the need of any additional sampling, storage, or pre-concentration steps.

[Applying competitive polymerase chain reaction to the detection of hepatitis B virus DNA].

PubMed

Wang, Ling; Yang, Peng; Li, Shuang-qing; Xu, Shu-hui; Cao, Gui-qun; Zhang, Fa-qiang; Zhang, Mei-xia; Chen, Qing-ying; Xia, Qing-jie; Liu, Kai; Tang, Fang; Zhang, Yuan-zheng

2004-11-01

To reduce the rate of accidental false negative result in the HBV DNA PCR test on clinical serum samples. A competitive polymerase chain reaction (C-PCR) was used to decrease the false negative ratio. In the C-PCR, a constructed inner control DNA was added for co-amplification with the HBV target DNA. In a 20 microl C-PCR system, about 60 to 200 copies of inner control DNA could give apparent co-amplification signal band after electrophoresis on a 2% agarose gel. Five of 120 samples of clinical serum (4.2%) could not be amplified. C-PCR has the advantage of yielding information on false negative in the HBV DNA PCR assay of clinical serum samples.

Effect of laughter on salivary endocrinological stress marker chromogranin A.

PubMed

Toda, Masahiro; Kusakabe, Shinsuke; Nagasawa, Shingo; Kitamura, Kazuyuki; Morimoto, Kanehisa

2007-04-01

We investigated the effect of laughter on salivary endocrinological stress marker chromogranin A (CgA). In saliva samples collected from 11 healthy males before and after watching a comic film or a non-humorous control film, salivary CgA levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Samples taken after watching the comic film showed increased levels of CgA. This tendency was more pronounced in individuals with lower initial levels of stress. The control samples showed no significant change in CgA levels. Stress score, subjectively evaluated using a visual analog scale, decreased significantly after watching the comic film. These findings suggest that, in addition to a stress relief effect, laughter can bring about feeling uplifted or fulfilled.

Effect of colloid (Androcoll-Bear, Percoll, and PureSperm) selection on the freezability of brown bear (Ursus arctos) sperm.

PubMed

Álvarez-Rodríguez, M; Álvarez, M; Anel-López, L; López-Urueña, E; Manrique, P; Borragán, S; Morrell, J M; de Paz, P; Anel, L

2016-04-01

The development of a species-specific conservation protocol that involves artificial insemination with frozen semen needs to validate an effective methodology for freezing semen. Colloid centrifugation has been suggested and widely applied as an effective tool for selecting animal spermatozoa for artificial breeding. The objective of the present study was to compare different methods of centrifugation, single layer using Androcoll-Bear and Percoll and double layer using PureSperm 100 (in two different discontinuous gradients 40%-80% and 45%-90%), for the selection of fresh brown bear sperm samples. In the before freezing group, all selected samples showed a higher progressive motility and viability (except Percoll for motility 43.0 ± 5.3 [P < 0.05]); all colloids except PureSperm 45/90% rendered samples with fewer damaged acrosomes. In the after thawing group, all tested centrifugation colloids showed a good capacity to decrease the number of damaged acrosomes. Furthermore, PureSperm treatment (45/90%) resulted in an increase in apoptotic-like changes not only immediately after thawing but also after the incubation test, leading us to suggest that this gradient could induce some kind of deleterious effects on the sperm samples. On the other hand, PureSperm treatment (40/80%) yielded a quality preservation capacity similar to Androcoll-Bear in number of damaged acrosomes, different relative to the control (control, 5.3 ± 0.6; PureSperm 80, 2.0 ± 0.3; Androcoll, 2.1 ± 0.9 [P < 0.05]) but a decrease in the number of viable spermatozoa recovered after thawing relative to the control (control, 21.2 ± 3.1; PureSperm 80, 13.7 ± 2.7 [P < 0.05]). In conclusion, Androcoll-Bear constitutes a useful tool for handling of brown bear ejaculates owing to its simple handling and procedure with a reliable sperm selection and freezability. This colloid yielded an improvement in several sperm parameters in brown bear frozen-thawed semen; the selected spermatozoa of fresh samples with this colloid showed a better resistance to freezing compared with the control sample not only for motility but also for viability. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Selection bias in population-based cancer case-control studies due to incomplete sampling frame coverage.

PubMed

Walsh, Matthew C; Trentham-Dietz, Amy; Gangnon, Ronald E; Nieto, F Javier; Newcomb, Polly A; Palta, Mari

2012-06-01

Increasing numbers of individuals are choosing to opt out of population-based sampling frames due to privacy concerns. This is especially a problem in the selection of controls for case-control studies, as the cases often arise from relatively complete population-based registries, whereas control selection requires a sampling frame. If opt out is also related to risk factors, bias can arise. We linked breast cancer cases who reported having a valid driver's license from the 2004-2008 Wisconsin women's health study (N = 2,988) with a master list of licensed drivers from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WDOT). This master list excludes Wisconsin drivers that requested their information not be sold by the state. Multivariate-adjusted selection probability ratios (SPR) were calculated to estimate potential bias when using this driver's license sampling frame to select controls. A total of 962 cases (32%) had opted out of the WDOT sampling frame. Cases age <40 (SPR = 0.90), income either unreported (SPR = 0.89) or greater than $50,000 (SPR = 0.94), lower parity (SPR = 0.96 per one-child decrease), and hormone use (SPR = 0.93) were significantly less likely to be covered by the WDOT sampling frame (α = 0.05 level). Our results indicate the potential for selection bias due to differential opt out between various demographic and behavioral subgroups of controls. As selection bias may differ by exposure and study base, the assessment of potential bias needs to be ongoing. SPRs can be used to predict the direction of bias when cases and controls stem from different sampling frames in population-based case-control studies.

Environmental assessment of a firetube boiler firing coal/oil/water mixtures. Volume 1. Technical results. Final report, February 1981-November 1983

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

DeRosier, R.

1984-09-01

This volume describes emission results from sampling of flue-gas from a firetube boiler burning a coal/oil/water (COW) mixture and COW with soda ash added (COW+SA) to control SO/sub 2/ emissions. Measurements included: continuous monitoring of flue-gas emissions; source assessment sampling system (SASS) sampling of the flue gas with subsequent laboratory analysis of the samples to give total flue gas organics in two boiling point ranges, specific quantitation of the semivolatile organic priority pollutant species, and flue gas concentrations of 73 trace elements; Method 5 sampling for total particulate; and controlled condensation system sampling for SO/sub 2/ and SO/sub 3/ emissions.more » Flue-gas SO/sub 2/ emissions decreased almost 99% with soda ash addition from 1,089 to 13.6 ppm (3% O2). NOx emissions decreased slightly from 477 to 427 ppm, while CO emissions increased significantly from an average of 25 to 426 ppm (all at 3% O2). Particulate loading at the boiler outlet almost doubled (from 1,970 to 3,715 pg/dscm) with the additive. The size distribution of particulate also shifted to a much smaller mean diameter. Total organic emissions increased from 6.7 to 13.1 mg/dscm; most of the increase were nonvolatile (C16+) organics. Of the semivolatile organic priority pollutant species, only fluoranthene and phenanthrene were detected with the COW fuel, and phenanthrene with the COW+SA fuel.« less

Electron Micrographs of Quail Limb Bones formed in microgravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2003-01-01

Electron micrographs of quail limb bones that formed under the influence of microgravity show decreased mineralization compared to bones formed in normal gravity. The letters B and C indicate bone and cartilage sides of the sample, respectively, with the arrows marking the junction between bone and cartilage cells. The asterisks indicate where mineralization begins. The bone that developed during spaceflight (top) shows less mineral compared to the control sample (bottom); the control sample clearly shows mineral deposits (dark spots) that are absent in the flight sample. Quail eggs are small and develop quickly, making them ideal for space experiments. In late 2001, the Avian Development Facility (ADF) made its first flight and carried eggs used in two investigations, development and function of the irner-ear balance system in normal and altered gravity environments, and skeletal development in embryonic quail.

Development and testing of fiber-reinforced composite space maintainers.

PubMed

Kulkarni, Gajanan; Lau, Domenic; Hafezi, Sara

2009-01-01

The purpose of this study was to develop a clinically acceptable, cheaper, and more expedient alternative to standard stainless steel band and loop space maintainers. Loops of fiber-reinforced composites were constructed using polyethylene fiber (Ribbond) and glass fiber (Sticktech). The loops were bonded on extracted third molars and tested for flexural strength before and after thermocycling and following repair of the appliances after initial stress failure. Bacterial colonization on the appliances was also compared. Conventional stainless steel band and loop space maintainers cemented with Ketac were controls. Ribbond samples demonstrated higher flexural strength than Sticktech and the control (P<.05). No differences were noted among the other samples and the control. The repaired Ribbond samples were statistically comparable in flexural strength to the initial samples. Thermocycling resulted in decreased flexural strength of both Ribbond and Sticktech (P<.05). Thermocycled Ribbond samples were comparable to the control, but a lower flexural strength was noted for Sticktech samples (P<.05). While all space maintainers allowed some bacterial adhesion, Sticktech showed higher Streptococcus mutans counts than Ribbond (P=.06). Ribbond space-maintainers are comparable to the stainless steel in terms of physical strength and biofilm formation. The fiber-reinforced composite space maintainers may be a clinically acceptable and expedient alternative to the conventional band-loop appliance.

Components of self-esteem in affective patients and non-psychiatric controls.

PubMed

Serretti, Alessandro; Olgiati, Paolo; Colombo, Cristina

2005-09-01

Decrease in self-esteem (SE) is found in all mood disorders during inter-episode phases. This trait was associated with relapse and suicidality but its genetic basis is still undefined, probably because SE has multiple components. The aim of the current study was to ascertain which of those components were altered in a sample of affective patients. Three hundred and thirty-one outpatients with bipolar (N=199) and major depressive MD (N=132) disorders in remission for at least three months and one hundred controls completed the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (RSE; [Rosenberg, M., 1965. The measurement of self-esteem, Society and the Adolescent Self-Image. Princeton University Press, pp.16-36]). Principal component analysis was performed to identify RSE factor structure. Extracted factors were compared across case and control groups in the whole sample (N=431) and in a sub-sample (N=301) with low self-esteem (RSE <20). PCA yielded a two-factor solution with self-confidence (SC) and self-deprecation (SD) that was largely consistent with the existing literature. Such factors were both associated with lower scores in affective patients than controls (SC: F=52, p<0.01; SD: F=43, p<0.01). However in the low RSE group only self-confidence was found to be decreased in subjects with mood disorders (SC: F=13.8, p<0.01; SD: F=0.05, p=0.9). These findings suggest that self-esteem deficit in affective disorders might involve specific components. Implications for research and clinical practice are discussed.

Vitamin D receptor levels in colorectal cancer. Possible role of BsmI polymorphism.

PubMed

Parisi, Eva; Reñé, Josep Maria; Cardús, Anna; Valcheva, Petya; Piñol-Felis, Carme; Valdivielso, José Manuel; Fernández, Elvira

2008-07-01

A high expression of vitamin D receptor (VDR) in colorectal cancer (CRC) tumoral tissue has been related to a good prognosis and it has been proposed that it could be a good biological marker of CRC progression. Nevertheless, there are no previous studies that compare the VDR expression in tumoral towards normal tissue of the same CRC patient in relation to VDR BsmI genotype. We collected normal and tumoral tissue samples, as well as blood samples, from CRC patients (n=170) and controls (n=122). VDR genotyping was performed and BsmI homozygous patients were selected (CRC=50, Cont=32). VDR mRNA and protein levels were analyzed. We also measured 25-Hydroxyvitamin D serum levels. We found no differences in the polymorphism distribution in tumoral versus normal tissue (control: BB=15.7%, bb=41.3%, Bb=43%; CRC: BB=14.2%, bb=41.9%, Bb=43.9%). Furthermore, VDR levels decreased in colonic cancer tissue (mean: 3.03) versus normal mucosa (11.62) from the same patient (p<0.001), but this decrease was similar in both genotypes. There were differences in 25-Hydroxyvitamin D(3) levels between the CRC and the control group (CRC=8.65 ng/ml, Cont=18.15 ng/ml). In conclusion, we found a decrease in VDR levels in tumoral compared with normal mucosa from the same patient. This difference is independent of the BsmI polymorphism.

Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of alpha-lipoic acid in experimentally induced acute otitis media.

PubMed

Tatar, A; Korkmaz, M; Yayla, M; Gozeler, M S; Mutlu, V; Halici, Z; Uslu, H; Korkmaz, H; Selli, J

2016-07-01

To investigate the anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and tissue protective effects, as well as the potential therapeutic role, of alpha-lipoic acid in experimentally induced acute otitis media. Twenty-five guinea pigs were assigned to one of five groups: a control (non-otitis) group, and otitis-induced groups treated with saline, penicillin G, alpha-lipoic acid, or alpha-lipoic acid plus penicillin G. Tissue samples were histologically analysed, and oxidative parameters in tissue samples were measured and compared between groups. The epithelial integrity was better preserved, and histological signs of inflammation and secretory metaplasia were decreased, in all groups compared to the saline treated otitis group. In the alpha-lipoic acid plus penicillin G treated otitis group, epithelial integrity was well preserved and histological findings of inflammation were significantly decreased compared to the saline, penicillin G and alpha-lipoic acid treated otitis groups. The most favourable oxidative parameters were observed in the control group, followed by the alpha-lipoic acid plus penicillin G treated otitis group. Alpha-lipoic acid, with its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and tissue protective properties, may decrease the clinical sequelae and morbidity associated with acute otitis media.

Treatment with topical steroids downregulates IL-5, eotaxin-1/CCL11, and eotaxin-3/CCL26 gene expression in eosinophilic esophagitis.

PubMed

Lucendo, Alfredo J; De Rezende, Livia; Comas, Carmen; Caballero, Teresa; Bellón, Teresa

2008-09-01

Our aim was to evaluate the changes induced by topical steroid treatment to the esophageal epithelial inflammatory eosinophilic and T-cell infiltrate and to IL-5, eotaxin-1/CCL11, and eotaxin-3/CCL26 esophageal gene expression levels in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EE). Esophageal biopsies were taken from eight adult patients at the moment of diagnosis and after 3-month treatment with fluticasone propionate. Eosinophils, CD8, and CD4 T cells were examined by immunohistochemistry. IL-5, eotaxin-1/CCL11, and eotaxin-3/CCL26 gene expression levels were measured by real-time PCR. Eight control samples were also analyzed. A significant decrease in the eosinophil infiltrate and in CD8(+) T-cell density was observed in the esophageal epithelium from the patients upon steroid treatment. IL-5 was not detected in control samples, and expression levels were variably downregulated after treatment in six of the patients. Gene expression of eotaxin-1/CCL11 showed relevant downregulation in four cases and a modest twofold decrease in three of the patients studied. Mean CCL11 expression values upon steroid treatment were similar to control samples (19.4 +/- 28.6 vs 8.42 +/- 5, P= 0.7). Eotaxin-3/CCL26 gene expression levels were significantly increased in EE. Although they were significantly downregulated upon steroid treatment, control expression levels were not reached in any of the cases analyzed (580.9 +/- 943.9 vs 1.45 +/- 1.0, P= 0.001). Our results confirm that eotaxin-3/CCL26 is significantly increased in EE esophageal samples. However, the individual analysis of IL-5, CCL11, and CCL26 expression data suggests that several cytokines and chemokines could participate in the physiopathology of EE in humans.

Effects of electroconvulsive therapy on amygdala function in major depression - a longitudinal functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

PubMed

Redlich, R; Bürger, C; Dohm, K; Grotegerd, D; Opel, N; Zaremba, D; Meinert, S; Förster, K; Repple, J; Schnelle, R; Wagenknecht, C; Zavorotnyy, M; Heindel, W; Kugel, H; Gerbaulet, M; Alferink, J; Arolt, V; Zwanzger, P; Dannlowski, U

2017-09-01

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the most effective treatments for severe depression. However, little is known regarding brain functional processes mediating ECT effects. In a non-randomized prospective study, functional magnetic resonance imaging data during the automatic processing of subliminally presented emotional faces were obtained twice, about 6 weeks apart, in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) before and after treatment with ECT (ECT, n = 24). Additionally, a control sample of MDD patients treated solely with pharmacotherapy (MED, n = 23) and a healthy control sample (HC, n = 22) were obtained. Before therapy, both patient groups equally showed elevated amygdala reactivity to sad faces compared with HC. After treatment, a decrease in amygdala activity to negative stimuli was discerned in both patient samples indicating a normalization of amygdala function, suggesting mechanisms potentially unspecific for ECT. Moreover, a decrease in amygdala activity to sad faces was associated with symptomatic improvements in the ECT sample (r spearman = -0.48, p = 0.044), and by tendency also for the MED sample (r spearman = -0.38, p = 0.098). However, we did not find any significant association between pre-treatment amygdala function to emotional stimuli and individual symptom improvement, neither for the ECT sample, nor for the MED sample. In sum, the present study provides first results regarding functional changes in emotion processing due to ECT treatment using a longitudinal design, thus validating and extending our knowledge gained from previous treatment studies. A limitation was that ECT patients received concurrent medication treatment.

Specific features of the structure of microbial biomass in soils of annular mesodepressions in Lipetsk and Volgograd oblasts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Polyanskaya, L. V.; Sukhanova, N. I.; Chakmazyan, K. V.; Zvyagintsev, D. G.

2014-09-01

In the studied mesodepressions, the total microbial biomass in the gray forest and chernozemic soils decreases by two-three times under the impact of hydrogen flux from the subsoil horizons and soil waterlogging. The biomass decrease is especially pronounced in the lower soil horizons. The population density of bacteria in the soil samples subjected to the impact of hydrogen fluxes and temporary waterlogging decreases by two-three times in the upper horizons and by ten times in the lower horizons in comparison with that in the control samples. These factors also affect the length of fungal mycelium: it decreases by three-four times in the upper horizons and may completely disappear in the lower horizons. The reduction of the microbial biomass can be explained by the fact that hydrogen and waterlogging sharply decrease the soil redox potential, which retards the development of most microbes, except for methanogens and some other specialized groups of microorganisms. The domination of bacteria with diameter ≥0.23 and ≥0.38 μm and the decrease in the total number of bacteria have been found with the use of the cascade filtration method.

Prevention of Insulin Resistance by Dietary Intervention among Pregnant Mothers: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PubMed

Goodarzi-Khoigani, Masoomeh; Mazloomy Mahmoodabad, Seyed Saeed; Baghiani Moghadam, Mohammad Hossein; Nadjarzadeh, Azadeh; Mardanian, Farahnaz; Fallahzadeh, Hossein; Dadkhah-Tirani, Azam

2017-01-01

Chronic insulin resistance (IR) is a basic part of the pathophysiology of gestational diabetes mellitus. Nutrition significantly impacts IR and weight loss reduces insulin levels, whereas weight gain increases the concentrations. Therefore, we surveyed the effect of nutrition intervention on IR in pregnant women and whether this effect is irrespective of weight gaining in accordance with Institute of Medicine limits. This prospective, randomized clinical trial was carried out among 150 primiparous pregnant mothers in fifteen health centers, five hospitals, and 15 private obstetrical offices in Isfahan. The nutrition intervention included education of healthy diet with emphasize on 50%-55% of total energy intake from carbohydrate (especially complex carbohydrates), 25%-30% from fat (to increase mono unsaturated fatty acids and decrease saturated and trans-fatty acids), and 15%-20% from protein during pregnancy for experimental group. The controls received the usual prenatal care by their health-care providers. This trial decreased pregnancy-induced insulin increases ( P = 0.01) and IR marginally ( P = 0.05). ANCOVA demonstrated that control of gestational weight gaining was more effective to decrease IR ( P = 0.02) while insulin values decreased by nutrition intervention and irrespective of weight control ( P = 0.06). Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) concentrations did not decrease by intervention ( P = 0.56) or weight management ( P = 0.15). The current intervention was effective to decrease pregnancy-induced insulin increases and IR. Considering study results on FPG levels and incidence of GDM, we suggest repeat of study design in a larger sample.

Growth in Temperament and Parenting as Predictors of Adjustment During Children’s Transition to Adolescence

PubMed Central

Lengua, Liliana J.

2014-01-01

The author examined relations among demographic risk (income, maternal education, single-parent status), growth in temperament (fear, irritability, effortful control), and parenting (rejection, inconsistent discipline) across 3 years and the prediction of children’s adjustment problems in a community sample (N = 190; ages 8–12 years at Time 1). Family income was related to higher initial levels of fear, irritability, rejection, and inconsistency and lower effortful control but was not related to changes in these variables. Higher initial rejection predicted increases in child fear and irritability. Higher initial fear predicted decreases in rejection and inconsistency. Higher initial irritability predicted increases in inconsistency, and higher initial effortful control predicted decreases in rejection. When growth of parenting and temperament were considered simultaneously, increases in effortful control and decreases in fear and irritability predicted lower Time 3 internalizing and externalizing problems. Increases in rejection and inconsistent discipline predicted higher Time 3 externalizing, although sometimes the effect appeared to be indirect through temperament. The findings suggest that temperament and parenting predict changes in each other and predict adjustment during the transition to adolescence. PMID:16953689

Investigation on photoluminescence emission of (reduced) graphene oxide paper

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ding, J. J.; Chen, H. X.; Feng, D. Q.; Fu, H. W.

2018-01-01

In order to contrastively investigate optical properties of graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) paper, GO is prepared by improved Hummer method and controlled reduced using hydration hydrazine to obtain good dispersive rGO in organic solvent. Finally, GO and rGO paper are obtained by vacuum filtration method. Samples morphology and optical properties are analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, Raman spectra, absorbance spectra and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. Results indicate that there are large numbers of localized states in both GO and rGO paper, and optical gaps of two samples are 0.62 eV. In PL spectra of GO paper, we observe three emission peaks at 565, 578 and 608 nm, respectively whose intensity decreases evidently after reduced, which is due to the decrease of oxide functionalized groups and expansion of sp2 clusters. PL emission will gradually decrease during GO are reduced.

An Evaluation of Lysyl Oxidase–Derived Cross-Linking in Keratoconus by Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

PubMed Central

Takaoka, Anna; Babar, Natasha; Hogan, Julia; Kim, MiJung; Price, Marianne O.; Price, Francis W.; Trokel, Stephen L.; Paik, David C.

2016-01-01

Purpose Current literature contains scant information regarding the extent of enzymatic collagen cross-linking in the keratoconus (KC) cornea. The aim of the present study was to examine levels of enzymatic lysyl oxidase–derived cross-links in stromal collagen in KC tissue, and to correlate the cross-link levels with collagen fibril stability as determined by thermal denaturation temperature (Tm). Methods Surgical KC samples (n = 17) and Eye-Bank control (n = 11) corneas of age 18 to 68 years were analyzed. The samples were defatted, reduced (NaBH4), hydrolyzed (6N HCl at 110°C for 18 hours), and cellulose enriched before analysis by C8 high-performance liquid chromatography equipped with parallel fluorescent and mass detectors in selective ion monitoring mode (20 mM heptafluorobutyric acid/methanol 70:30 isocratic at 1 mL/min). Nine different cross-links were measured, and the cross-link density was determined relative to collagen content (determined colorimetrically). The Tm was determined by differential scanning calorimetry. Results Cross-links detected were dihydroxylysinonorleucine (DHLNL), hydroxylysinonorleucine, lysinonorleucine (LNL), and histidinohydroxylysinonorleucine in both control and KC samples. Higher DHLNL levels were detected in KC, whereas the dominant cross-link, LNL, was decreased in KC samples. Decreased LNL levels were observed among KC ≤ 40 corneas. There was no difference in total cross-link density between KC samples and the controls. Pyridinolines, desmosines, and pentosidine were not detected. There was no notable correlation between cross-link levels with fibril instability as determined by Tm. Conclusions Lower levels of LNL in the KC cornea suggest that there might be a cross-linking defect either in fibrillar collagen or the microfibrillar elastic network composed of fibrillin. PMID:26780316

Litter aeration and spread of Salmonella in broilers.

PubMed

Bodí, Sara González; Garcia, Arantxa Villagra; García, Santiago Vega; Orenga, Clara Marín

2013-08-01

Litter quality in the poultry sector is one of the main parameters of health, productivity, and animal welfare. Therefore, innovative management methods have been developed to improve the quality of litter. One of them is litter aeration (LA) by tumbling. However, there is little information related to the effect of this technique on the spreading of pathogens of public health importance such as Salmonella. In this context, the objective of this study was to determine the epidemiology of Salmonella in poultry farms, when serial LA were implemented during the rearing cycle of broilers. For this purpose, an experimental broiler farm with 3 identical rooms was used in the study. Two rooms were assigned to the LA treatment, and the other one served as the control room. Environmental samples were taken in poultry houses after LA in 4 consecutive weeks at the end of the cycle. All samples collected were analyzed according to the standards of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO 6579:2002, Annex D). The results of this study showed that in the control and treated rooms, the percentage of positive samples for Salmonella decreased in the first 3 LA sessions (LA 1, LA 2, and LA 3). However, in the last LA session of rearing (LA 4), the percentage of positive samples increased from 8.2 to 33.2% in the control room instead the treated rooms where the positive samples decreased (P = 0.017). Thus, the aeration of the litter as litter management technique in poultry broiler production does not increase the shedding or the spread of Salmonella throughout broiler houses. In addition, it could be an effective technique to reduce the infective pressure of this bacterium in several areas of the farm or in certain moments of the rearing period with more risk of multiplication and spreading of Salmonella.

Effect of Pore Size and Porosity on the Biomechanical Properties and Cytocompatibility of Porous NiTi Alloys

PubMed Central

Jian, Yu-Tao; Yang, Yue; Tian, Tian; Stanford, Clark; Zhang, Xin-Ping; Zhao, Ke

2015-01-01

Five types of porous Nickel-Titanium (NiTi) alloy samples of different porosities and pore sizes were fabricated. According to compressive and fracture strengths, three groups of porous NiTi alloy samples underwent further cytocompatibility experiments. Porous NiTi alloys exhibited a lower Young’s modulus (2.0 GPa ~ 0.8 GPa). Both compressive strength (108.8 MPa ~ 56.2 MPa) and fracture strength (64.6 MPa ~ 41.6 MPa) decreased gradually with increasing mean pore size (MPS). Cells grew and spread well on all porous NiTi alloy samples. Cells attached more strongly on control group and blank group than on all porous NiTi alloy samples (p < 0.05). Cell adhesion on porous NiTi alloys was correlated negatively to MPS (277.2 μm ~ 566.5 μm; p < 0.05). More cells proliferated on control group and blank group than on all porous NiTi alloy samples (p < 0.05). Cellular ALP activity on all porous NiTi alloy samples was higher than on control group and blank group (p < 0.05). The porous NiTi alloys with optimized pore size could be a potential orthopedic material. PMID:26047515

Sample preparation and detection device for infectious agents

DOEpatents

Miles, Robin R.; Wang, Amy W.; Fuller, Christopher K.; Lemoff, Asuncion V.; Bettencourt, Kerry A.; Yu, June

2003-06-10

A sample preparation and analysis device which incorporates both immunoassays and PCR assays in one compact, field-portable microchip. The device provides new capabilities in fluid and particle control which allows the building of a fluidic chip with no moving parts, thus decreasing fabrication cost and increasing the robustness of the device. The device can operate in a true continuous (not batch) mode. The device incorporates magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) pumps to move the fluid through the system, acoustic mixing and fractionation, dielectropheretic (DEP) sample concentration and purification, and on-chip optical detection capabilities.

Improved Ablation Resistance of Silicone Rubber Composites by Introducing Montmorillonite and Silicon Carbide Whisker

PubMed Central

Zhang, Guangwu; Wang, Fuzhong; Huang, Zhixiong; Dai, Jing; Shi, Minxian

2016-01-01

Montmorillonite (MMT) was added to silicone rubber (SR) to improve the ablation resistance of the silicone. Following this, different quantities of silicon carbide whiskers (SiCw) were incorporated into the MMT/SR to yield a hybrid, ablative composite. The tensile strength and elongation at break of the composite increased after the addition of MMT. The ablation test results showed that MMT helped to form a covering layer by bonding with the silica and other components on the ablated surface. The linear and mass ablation rates exhibited decreases of 22.5% and 18.2%, respectively, in comparison to a control sample. After further incorporation of SiCw as the second filler, the resulting composites exhibited significantly higher tensile strength and ablation resistance, but not particularly lower elongation at break in comparison to the control sample. The SiCw/MMT fillers were beneficial in forming a dense and compact covering layer that delayed the heat and oxygen diffusion into the inner layers, which improved the ablation properties effectively. The remaining whiskers acted as a micro skeleton to maintain the composite’s char strength. Compared to the control sample, the linear and mass ablation rates of the composite after incorporating 6 phr SiCw and 10 phr MMT decreased by 59.2% and 43.6%, respectively. These experimental results showed that the fabricated composites exhibited outstanding mechanical properties and excellent ablation resistance. PMID:28773846

Improved Ablation Resistance of Silicone Rubber Composites by Introducing Montmorillonite and Silicon Carbide Whisker.

PubMed

Zhang, Guangwu; Wang, Fuzhong; Huang, Zhixiong; Dai, Jing; Shi, Minxian

2016-08-24

Montmorillonite (MMT) was added to silicone rubber (SR) to improve the ablation resistance of the silicone. Following this, different quantities of silicon carbide whiskers (SiCw) were incorporated into the MMT/SR to yield a hybrid, ablative composite. The tensile strength and elongation at break of the composite increased after the addition of MMT. The ablation test results showed that MMT helped to form a covering layer by bonding with the silica and other components on the ablated surface. The linear and mass ablation rates exhibited decreases of 22.5% and 18.2%, respectively, in comparison to a control sample. After further incorporation of SiCw as the second filler, the resulting composites exhibited significantly higher tensile strength and ablation resistance, but not particularly lower elongation at break in comparison to the control sample. The SiCw/MMT fillers were beneficial in forming a dense and compact covering layer that delayed the heat and oxygen diffusion into the inner layers, which improved the ablation properties effectively. The remaining whiskers acted as a micro skeleton to maintain the composite's char strength. Compared to the control sample, the linear and mass ablation rates of the composite after incorporating 6 phr SiCw and 10 phr MMT decreased by 59.2% and 43.6%, respectively. These experimental results showed that the fabricated composites exhibited outstanding mechanical properties and excellent ablation resistance.

Myoinhibiting Peptides are the Ancestral Ligands of the Promiscuous Drosophila Sex Peptide Receptor

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-01-01

decreases the willingness to re-mate, induces egg production and egg laying, stimulates food intake, enhances antimicrobial peptide synthesis and reduces...polypropylene tubes, centrifuged to remove cell debris, and the supernatants dried. Each sample was dissolved in 250 ll of assay buffer (0.05 M Tris, 4...variations during the cDNA synthesis step, all RNA samples were reverse transcribed simultaneously. Furthermore, several negative control reactions, i.e

Nesfatin-1 alleviates extrahepatic cholestatic damage of liver in rats

PubMed Central

Solmaz, Ali; Gülçiçek, Osman Bilgin; Erçetin, Candaş; Yiğitbaş, Hakan; Yavuz, Erkan; Arıcı, Sinan; Erzik, Can; Zengi, Oğuzhan; Demirtürk, Pelin; Çelik, Atilla; Çelebi, Fatih

2016-01-01

Obstructive jaundice (OJ) can be defined as cessation of bile flow into the small intestine due to benign or malignant changes. Nesfatin-1, recently discovered anorexigenic peptide derived from nucleobindin-2 in hypothalamic nuclei, was shown to have anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects. This study is aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of nesfatin-1 on OJ in rats. Twenty-four adult male Wistar-Hannover rats were randomly assigned to three groups: sham (n = 8), control (n = 8), and nesfatin (n = 8). After bile duct ligation, the study groups were treated with saline or nesfatin-1, for 10 days. Afterward, blood and liver tissue samples were obtained for biochemical analyses, measurement of cytokines, determination of the oxidative DNA damage, DNA fragmentation, and histopathologic analyses. Alanine aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl transferase levels were decreased after the nesfatin treatment; however, these drops were statistically non-significant compared to control group (p = 0.345, p = 0.114). Malondialdehyde levels decreased significantly in nesfatin group compared to control group (p = 0.032). Decreases in interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α levels from the liver tissue samples were not statistically significant in nesfatin group compared to control group. The level of oxidative DNA damage was lower in nesfatin group, however this result was not statistically significant (p = 0.75). DNA fragmentation results of all groups were similar. Histopathological examination revealed that there was less neutrophil infiltration, edema, bile duct proliferation, hepatocyte necrosis, basement membrane damage, and parenchymal necrosis in nesfatin compared to control group. The nesfatin-1 treatment could alleviate cholestatic liver damage caused by OJ due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. PMID:27524109

Investigation Into Shelf Life of Fresh Dates and Pistachios in a Package Modified With Nano-Silver.

PubMed

Mousavi, Fateme Peyro; Pour, Hasan Hashemi; Nasab, Amir Heidari; Rajabalipour, Ali A; Barouni, Mohsen

2015-09-18

The aim of this study was to apply polymer films containing silver nanoparticles as a new method for increasing the shelf life and preserving the quality of export/commercial products of Kerman Province and determine the ideal temperature for preserving these products. After preparing nano-composite films containing silver nanoparticles (3% and 5% by weight), Mazafati dates were packed in them and stored with their control samples under four temperatures. In the second series, the films were filled with fresh pistachios and stored at four temperatures. In date samples, after 2, 7, 21 and 53 days of storing the samples were examined under the certified test of Iran Institute of Industrial Standard for Dates, which includes pH, TSS, acidity and reducing sugars tests. In pistachio samples the color values and market-friendly quality were evaluated after 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8 days of storage. In date samples, the pH value decreased with increasing acidity in 3 and 5 wt% of nano-silver and their control samples. In addition, in 5 wt% samples the acidity was higher than that in 3% samples, with pH being lower in the controls at almost all the intervals. Furthermore, pH values in 5% samples were higher in comparison with 3 wt% samples and controls. The amount of reducing sugars in the control samples was lower than those in 3 and 5 wt% samples. In relation to pistachio samples, the damage over time was greater in sample stored under higher temperatures. The maximum shelf life of the dates packaged in 5 wt% of silver nano-powder was 53 days and the best temperature to store samples was determined at 4°C. Packages containing nano-silver increased shelf life of fresh pistachios, with the best temperatures being 25°C and 0°C.

Investigation Into Shelf Life of Fresh Dates and Pistachios in a Package Modified With Nano-Silver

PubMed Central

Mousavi, Fateme Peyro; Pour, Hasan Hashemi; Nasab, Amir Heidari; Rajabalipour, Ali A.; Barouni, Mohsen

2016-01-01

Aims: The aim of this study was to apply polymer films containing silver nanoparticles as a new method for increasing the shelf life and preserving the quality of export/commercial products of Kerman Province and determine the ideal temperature for preserving these products. Methods: After preparing nano-composite films containing silver nanoparticles (3% and 5% by weight), Mazafati dates were packed in them and stored with their control samples under four temperatures. In the second series, the films were filled with fresh pistachios and stored at four temperatures. In date samples, after 2, 7, 21 and 53 days of storing the samples were examined under the certified test of Iran Institute of Industrial Standard for Dates, which includes pH, TSS, acidity and reducing sugars tests. In pistachio samples the color values and market-friendly quality were evaluated after 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8 days of storage. Results: In date samples, the pH value decreased with increasing acidity in 3 and 5 wt% of nano-silver and their control samples. In addition, in 5 wt% samples the acidity was higher than that in 3% samples, with pH being lower in the controls at almost all the intervals. Furthermore, pH values in 5% samples were higher in comparison with 3 wt% samples and controls. The amount of reducing sugars in the control samples was lower than those in 3 and 5 wt% samples. In relation to pistachio samples, the damage over time was greater in sample stored under higher temperatures. Conclusion: The maximum shelf life of the dates packaged in 5 wt% of silver nano-powder was 53 days and the best temperature to store samples was determined at 4°C. Packages containing nano-silver increased shelf life of fresh pistachios, with the best temperatures being 25°C and 0°C. PMID:26652097

Exploring high dimensional free energy landscapes: Temperature accelerated sliced sampling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Awasthi, Shalini; Nair, Nisanth N.

2017-03-01

Biased sampling of collective variables is widely used to accelerate rare events in molecular simulations and to explore free energy surfaces. However, computational efficiency of these methods decreases with increasing number of collective variables, which severely limits the predictive power of the enhanced sampling approaches. Here we propose a method called Temperature Accelerated Sliced Sampling (TASS) that combines temperature accelerated molecular dynamics with umbrella sampling and metadynamics to sample the collective variable space in an efficient manner. The presented method can sample a large number of collective variables and is advantageous for controlled exploration of broad and unbound free energy basins. TASS is also shown to achieve quick free energy convergence and is practically usable with ab initio molecular dynamics techniques.

Effects of marinating on heterocyclic amine carcinogen formation in grilled chicken.

PubMed

Salmon, C P; Knize, M G; Felton, J S

1997-05-01

This study compared heterocyclic aromatic amines in marinated and unmarinated chicken breast meat flame-broiled on a propane grill. Chicken was marinated prior to grilling and the levels of several heterocyclic amines formed during cooking were determined by solid-phase extraction and HPLC. Compared with unmarinated controls, a 92-99% decrease in 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) was observed in whole chicken breast marinated with a mixture of brown sugar, olive oil, cider vinegar, garlic, mustard, lemon juice and salt, then grilled for 10, 20, 30 or 40 min. Conversely, 2-amino-3, 8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx) increased over 10-fold with marinating, but only at the 30 and 40 min cooking times. Marinating reduced the total detectable heterocyclic amines from 56 to 1.7 ng/g, from 158 to 10 ng/g and from 330 to 44 ng/g for grilling times of 20, 30 and 40 min, respectively. The mutagenic activity of the sample extracts was also measured, using the Ames/Salmonella assay. Mutagenic activity was lower in marinated samples cooked for 10, 20 and 30 min, but higher in the marinated samples cooked for 40 min, compared with unmarinated controls. Although a change in free amino acids, which are heterocyclic amine precursors, might explain the decrease in PhIP and increase in MeIQx, no such change was detected. Marinating chicken in one ingredient at a time showed that sugar was involved in the increased MeIQx, but the reason for the decrease in PhIP was unclear. PhIP decreased in grilled chicken after marinating with several individual ingredients. This work shows that marinating is one method that can significantly reduce PhIP concentration in grilled chicken.

[Comparison between transgenic insect-resistant cotton expressing Cry1Ac protein and its parental variety in rhizospheric fungal diversity].

PubMed

Pan, Jian-Gang; Jiao, Hai-Hua; Bai, Zhi-Hui; Qi, Hong-Yan; Ma, An-Zhou; Zhuang, Guo-qiang; Zhang, Hong-xun

2014-11-01

The dynamics of rhizospheric fungal diversity and biomass at different sampling stages associated with two transgenic insectresistant cottons expressing Cry1Ac protein and their control varieties were studied under greenhouse conditions, followed by PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR), in order to evaluate the ecological security of planting transgenic cotton expressing Cry1Ac protein. The results indicated that the fungal superior bands in rhizosphere of transgenic Bt cotton were similar with that of control cotton at four sampling stages, the more obvious difference in the blurred bands among transgenic Bt cotton, JM20 and SHIYUAN321 was detected. The rhizospheric fungal biomass of transgenic Bt cotton SGK321 was significantly lower than that of its parental control cotton at seedling stage, while the slight decrease in fungal biomass of transgenic Bt cotton XP188 was detected at boll forming stage, the ill-defined decrease, even growing tendency in two transgenic Bt cottons was detected at other stages. However, the difference of rhizospheric fungal community compositions and biomass was not only existed between transgenic cotton and its control, but also between SHIYUAN321 and JM20, and the same phenomenon was also detected between transgenic Bt cotton SGK321 and XP188. Hence, Bt protein is not the only incentive resulting in the difference in fungal community composition and diversity, the decrease in biomass between transgenic cotton and untransgenic cotton, different cotton varieties has an effect on them.

Progesterone, selected heavy metals and micronutrients in pregnant Nigerian women with a history of recurrent spontaneous abortion.

PubMed

Ajayi, O O; Charles-Davies, M A; Arinola, O G

2012-06-01

Environmental and endocrine factors have been implicated in the aetiology of recurrent abortion, with poorly understood roles. Luteal phase insufficiency marked with insufficient progesterone secretion has been reported. To define the involvement of progesterone, trace metals, and Vitamin E in pregnant women with history of recurrent spontaneous abortion. Convenience sampling method was used to recruit 69 pregnant women aged 21-41 years with gestational age of 0-20 weeks in this case-control study. Thirty five (cases) and thirty four (controls) had previous and no history of recurrent spontaneous abortion respectively. Demographic characteristics and 10 mls of blood samples were obtained from each subject. Serum obtained was used for the determination of progesterone, zinc, copper, selenium, iron, magnesium, manganese, chromium, lead, cadmium, and serum vitamin E by standard methods. Results showed statistically significant decreases (p<0.05) in the serum zinc, copper, and vitamin E and a significant elevation (p<0.05) in the serum selenium, lead, and cadmium in cases compared with controls. Insignificant decrease (p=0.07) was observed in the serum progesterone when cases were compared with controls. Results suggest that elevated serum heavy metals (cadmium and lead) and reduction of essential micronutrients (zinc, copper and vitamin E) may contribute to recurrent spontaneous abortion.

Impact of a low intensity controlled-fire in some chemical soil properties.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martínez-Murillo, Juan F.; Hueso-González, Paloma; Aranda-Gómez, Francisco; Damián Ruiz-Sinoga, José

2014-05-01

Some changes in chemical soil properties can be observed after fires of low intensities. pH and electric conductivity tend to increase, while C/N ratio decrease. In the case of organic matter, the content can increase due to the massive incorporation of necromass including, especially, plants and roots. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of low intensity and controlled fire in some soil properties in field conditions. El Pinarillo experimental area is located in South of Spain. Two set of closed plots were installed (24 m2: 12 m length x 2 m width). One of them was remained as control with the original vegetation cover (Mediterranean matorral: Rosmarinus officinalis, Cistus clusii, Lavandula stoechas, Chamaeropos humilis, Thymus baetica), and the other one was burnt in a controlled-fire in 2011. Weather conditions and water content of vegetation influenced in the intensity of fire (low). After the controlled-fire, soil surface sample (0-5 cm) were taken in both set of plots (B, burnt soil samples; C, control soil samples). Some soil chemical properties were analysed: organic matter content (OM), C/N ratio, pH and electrical conductivity (EC). Some changes were observed in B corroborating a controlled-fire of low intensity. pH remained equal after fire (B: pH=7.7±0.11; C: pH=7.7±0.04). An increment was obtained in the case of EC (B: EC=0.45 mScm-1±0.08 mScm-1; C: EC=0.35 mScm-1±0.07 mScm-1) and OM (B: OM=8.7%±3.8%; C: pH=7.3%±1.5%). Finally, C/N ratio decreased after fire respect to the control and initial conditions (B: C/N=39.0±14.6; C: C/N =46.5±10.2).

In vitro structural properties of braided tendon grafts.

PubMed

Nicklin, S; Waller, C; Walker, P; Chung, W K; Walsh, W R

2000-01-01

In an effort to increase strength in hamstring tendon grafts for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, braiding or weaving of the tendons has been suggested. The purpose of this study was to examine the biomechanical properties of two braiding techniques compared with a four-stranded tendon graft using a sheep model. Digital extensor tendons from 5 adult sheep were harvested in 28 matched pairs and randomly allocated to French plait or four-stranded weave. The grafts were tested in a hydraulic testing machine with the tendons secured in brass grips frozen with liquid carbon dioxide. The tendons were preconditioned to a distraction of 1 mm for 10 cycles followed by testing to failure at 50 mm/sec, with a data acquisition rate of 1,000 Hz. The stiffness, ultimate load to failure, and the mode of failure were recorded. All braided samples failed at the midsubstance, while the four-stranded controls failed at the grip interface. There was a significant reduction in strength and stiffness of the braided samples compared with the controls. This study demonstrated that braiding decreases the strength and stiffness of a four-stranded tendon graft by up to 54% and 85%, respectively. This finding is supported by the work of Hearle et al. (1969), who demonstrated that the decrease in strength of fiber bundles is equal to the square of the cosine of the twist angle. The twist angle in our samples was approximately 45 degrees, which equates to a decrease in strength of 50%.

Effect of Proteolytic Enzymes and Ginger Extract on Tenderization of M. pectoralis profundus from Holstein Steer.

PubMed

Moon, Sung Sil

2018-02-01

The effects of proteolytic enzymes (bromelain and bromelain+papain) and a ginger extract were assessed on collagen content and solubility, thermal shrinkage temperature of connective tissue, pH, cooking loss, drip loss, and Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) of M. pectoralis profundus isolated from the beef brisket cut. Both proteolytic enzymes and ginger extract led to a significant increase in cooking loss and collagen solubility compared with untreated controls. On the other hand, the peak ( T p ) thermal shrinkage temperature markedly decreased in all treatments compared with those in controls. Samples treated with bromelain, bromelain + papain, and ginger extract showed a significant decrease in WBSF by 36%, 40%, and 37%, respectively, compared with untreated controls. Our findings suggest that ginger extract are useful for postmortem tenderization of meat containing high levels of collagen, compared to control even though, bromelain and bromelain + papain treatments have higher collagen solubility than ginger extract.

Development of a split-flow system for high precision variable sample introduction in supercritical fluid chromatography.

PubMed

Sakai, Miho; Hayakawa, Yoshihiro; Funada, Yasuhiro; Ando, Takashi; Fukusaki, Eiichiro; Bamba, Takeshi

2017-09-15

In this study, we propose a novel variable sample injection system based on full-loop injection, named the split-flow sample introduction system, for application in supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). In this system, the mobile phase is split by the differential pressure between two back pressure regulators (BPRs) after full-loop injection suitable for SFC, and this differential pressure determines the introduction rate. Nine compounds with a wide range of characteristics were introduced with high reproducibility and universality, confirming that a robust variable sample injection system was achieved. We also investigated the control factors of our proposed system. Sample introduction was controlled by the ratio between the column-side pressure drops in splitless and split flow, ΔP columnsideinsplitless and ΔP columnsideinsplit , respectively, where ΔP columnsideinsplitless is related to the mobile phase flow rate and composition and the column resistance. When all other conditions are kept constant, increasing the make-up flow induces an additional pressure drop on the column side of the system, which leads to a reduced column-side flow rate, and hence decreased the amount of sample injected, even when the net pressure drop on the column side remains the same. Thus, sample introduction could be highly controlled at low sample introduction rate, regardless of the introduction conditions. This feature is advantageous because, as a control factor, the solvent in the make-up pump is independent of the column-side pressure drop. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Effects of meat addition on pasta structure, nutrition and in vitro digestibility.

PubMed

Liu, Tingting; Hamid, Nazimah; Kantono, Kevin; Pereira, Loveena; Farouk, Mustafa M; Knowles, Scott O

2016-12-15

In our study, semolina flour was substituted with beef emulsion (EM) at three different levels of 15, 30 and 45% (w/w) to develop a pasta with enhanced nutritional profile. The protein, fat, and water content significantly increased with addition of meat. The addition of meat enhanced the pasta gluten network. The redness and yellowness of cooked pasta increased with meat addition. Tensile strength increased from 0.018N/mm(2) in the control sample to 0.046N/mm(2) in 45% beef emulsion (45EM) sample. All meat-containing samples had significantly higher elasticity than control (0.039N/mm(2)). GI significantly decreased and IVPD value increased in 45EM sample. Five essential amino acids (leucine, lysine, methionine, threonine, tryptophan) in pasta digesta increased significantly with increasing meat addition. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

An investigation of potential applications of OP-SAPS: Operational sampled analog processors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parrish, E. A.; Mcvey, E. S.

1976-01-01

The impact of charge-coupled device (CCD) processors on future instrumentation was investigated. The CCD devices studied process sampled analog data and are referred to as OP-SAPS - operational sampled analog processors. Preliminary studies into various architectural configurations for systems composed of OP-SAPS show that they have potential in such diverse applications as pattern recognition and automatic control. It appears probable that OP-SAPS may be used to construct computing structures which can serve as special peripherals to large-scale computer complexes used in real time flight simulation. The research was limited to the following benchmark programs: (1) face recognition, (2) voice command and control, (3) terrain classification, and (4) terrain identification. A small amount of effort was spent on examining a method by which OP-SAPS may be used to decrease the limiting ground sampling distance encountered in remote sensing from satellites.

Effect of Weatherization Combined With Community Health Worker In-Home Education on Asthma Control

PubMed Central

Dixon, Sherry; Gregory, Joel; Philby, Miriam; Jacobs, David E.; Krieger, James

2014-01-01

Objectives. We assessed the benefits of adding weatherization-plus-health interventions to an in-home, community health worker (CHW) education program on asthma control. Methods. We used a quasi-experimental design to compare study group homes (n = 34) receiving CHW education and weatherization-plus-health structural interventions with historical comparison group homes (n = 68) receiving only education. Data were collected in King County, Washington, from October 2009 to September 2010. Results. Over the 1-year study period, the percentage of study group children with not-well-controlled or very poorly controlled asthma decreased more than the comparison group percentage (100% to 28.8% vs 100% to 51.6%; P = .04). Study group caregiver quality-of-life improvements exceeded comparison group improvements (P = .002) by 0.7 units, a clinically important difference. The decrease in study home asthma triggers (evidence of mold, water damage, pests, smoking) was marginally greater than the comparison group decrease (P = .089). Except for mouse allergen, the percentage of study group allergen floor dust samples at or above the detection limit decreased, although most reductions were not statistically significant. Conclusions. Combining weatherization and healthy home interventions (e.g., improved ventilation, moisture and mold reduction, carpet replacement, and plumbing repairs) with CHW asthma education significantly improves childhood asthma control. PMID:24228661

Influence of loading and unloading velocity of confining pressure on strength and permeability characteristics of crystalline sandstone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Dong-ming; Yang, Yu-shun; Chu, Ya-pei; Zhang, Xiang; Xue, Yan-guang

2018-06-01

The triaxial compression test of crystalline sandstone under different loading and unloading velocity of confining pressure is carried out by using the self-made "THM coupled with servo-controlled seepage apparatus for containing-gas coal", analyzed the strength, deformation and permeability characteristics of the sample, the results show that: with the increase of confining pressures loading-unloading velocity, Mohr's stress circle center of the specimen shift to the right, and the ultimate intensity, peak strain and residual stress of the specimens increase gradually. With the decrease of unloading velocity of confining pressure, the axial strain, the radial strain and the volumetric strain of the sample decrease first and then increases, but the radial strain decreases more greatly. The loading and unloading of confining pressure has greater influence on axial strain of specimens. The deformation modulus decreases rapidly with the increase of axial strain and the Poisson's ratio decreases gradually at the initial stage of loading. When the confining pressure is loaded, the deformation modulus decrease gradually, and the Poisson's ratio increases gradually. When the confining pressure is unloaded, the deformation modulus increase gradually, and the Poisson's ratio decreases gradually. When the specimen reaches the ultimate intensity, the deformation modulus decreases rapidly, while the Poisson's ratio increases rapidly. The fitting curve of the confining pressure and the deformation modulus and the Poisson's ratio in accordance with the distribution of quadratic polynomial function in the loading-unloading confining pressure. There is a corresponding relationship between the evolution of rock permeability and damage deformation during the process of loading and unloading. In the late stage of yielding, the permeability increases slowly, and the permeability increases sharply after the rock sample is destroyed. Fitting the permeability and confining pressure conform to the variation law of the exponential function.

Antidiabetic Potential of Kefir Combination from Goat Milk and Soy Milk in Rats Induced with Streptozotocin-Nicotinamide

PubMed Central

Harmayani, Eni; Sunarti

2015-01-01

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of kefir combination from goat milk and soy milk on lipid profile, plasma glucose, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and the improvement of pancreatic β-cell in diabetic rats. Male rats were divided into five treatments: normal control, diabetic control, goat milk kefir, combination of goat milk-soy milk kefir and soy milk kefir. All rats were induced by streptooztocin-nicotinamide (STZ-NA), except for normal control. After 35 d experiment, the rats were sampled for blood, sacrificed and sampled for pancreatic tissues. Results showed that diabetic rats fed kefir combination had higher (p<0.05) triglyceride than the rats fed goat milk or soy milk kefir. Decreasing of plasma glucose in diabetic rats fed kefir combination was higher (p<0.05) than rats fed goat millk kefir. The activity of GPx in diabetic rats fed three kinds of kefir were higher (p<0.01) than untreated diabetic rats. The average number of Langerhans and β-cells in diabetic rats fed kefir combination was the same as the normal control, but it was higher than diabetic control. It was concluded that kefir combination can be used as antidiabetic through maintaining in serum triglyceride, decreasing in plasma glucose, increasing in GPx activity and improving in pancreatic β-cells. PMID:26877646

Accelerated leukocyte telomere erosion in schizophrenia: Evidence from the present study and a meta-analysis.

PubMed

Rao, Shuquan; Kota, Lakshmi Narayanan; Li, Zongchang; Yao, Yao; Tang, Jinsong; Mao, Canquan; Jain, Sanjeev; Xu, Yong; Xu, Qi

2016-08-01

Human telomeres consist of tandem nucleotide repeats (TTAGGG) and associated proteins, and telomere length (TL) is reduced progressively with cell division over the lifespan. Telomere erosion might be accelerated or prevented to varying degrees when exposure to serious medical illnesses. In previous studies, an association between TL decrease and schizophrenia has been extensively reported; however, the results remain largely controversial. To further investigate TL in schizophrenia patients and reconcile this controversy, we first measured leucocyte TL (LTL) in our samples (52 paranoid schizophrenia, 89 non-paranoid patients and 120 controls), and then conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis of the existing results of LTL in patients of schizophrenia compared to healthy subjects. Totally, 11 studies encompassing 1243 patients of schizophrenia and 1274 controls were included in the final meta-analysis model. In our samples, significant reduction of LTL in paranoid schizophrenia was observed compared to controls (F = 50.88, P < 0.001); whereas there was no significant difference in LTL between non-paranoid schizophrenia and controls (F = 0.842, P = 0.360). For meta-analysis, random-effects model showed significant LTL decrease in patients of schizophrenia when compared to controls (Z = 2.07, P = 0.039, SMD = -0.48, 95% CI = -0.94 to -0.03). Moreover, a marginal decrease in LTL was observed in medicated patients (Z = 1.92, P = 0.055, SMD = -0.58, 95% CI = -1.18-0.01) and those patients with poor response to antipsychotics (Z = 1.76, P = 0.078, SMD = -0.60, 95% CI = -1.27-0.07). In conclusion, we observed significant reduction of LTL in individuals with schizophrenia compared with controls. However, all the studies included in the meta-analysis were cross-sectional, and better controlled long-term studies are needed to replicate this result. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Regular cannabis and alcohol use is associated with resting-state time course power spectra in incarcerated adolescents.

PubMed

Thijssen, Sandra; Rashid, Barnaly; Gopal, Shruti; Nyalakanti, Prashanth; Calhoun, Vince D; Kiehl, Kent A

2017-09-01

Cannabis and alcohol are believed to have widespread effects on the brain. Although adolescents are at increased risk for substance use, the adolescent brain may also be particularly vulnerable to the effects of drug exposure due to its rapid maturation. Here, we examined the association between cannabis and alcohol use duration and resting-state functional connectivity in a large sample of male juvenile delinquents. The present sample was drawn from the Southwest Advanced Neuroimaging Cohort, Youth sample, and from a youth detention facility in Wisconsin. All participants were scanned at the maximum-security facilities using The Mind Research Network's 1.5T Avanto SQ Mobile MRI scanner. Information on cannabis and alcohol regular use duration was collected using self-report. Resting-state networks were computed using group independent component analysis in 201 participants. Associations with cannabis and alcohol use were assessed using Mancova analyses controlling for age, IQ, smoking and psychopathy scores in the complete case sample of 180 male juvenile delinquents. No associations between alcohol or cannabis use and network spatial maps were found. Longer cannabis use was associated with decreased low frequency power of the default mode network, the executive control networks (ECNs), and several sensory networks, and with decreased functional network connectivity. Duration of alcohol use was associated with decreased low frequency power of the right frontoparietal network, salience network, dorsal attention network, and several sensory networks. Our findings suggest that adolescent cannabis and alcohol use are associated with widespread differences in resting-state time course power spectra, which may persist even after abstinence. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Impact of the Di(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate Administration on Trace Element and Mineral Levels in Relation of Kidney and Liver Damage in Rats.

PubMed

Aydemir, Duygu; Karabulut, Gözde; Şimşek, Gülsu; Gok, Muslum; Barlas, Nurhayat; Ulusu, Nuriye Nuray

2018-04-13

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a widely used synthetic polymer in the industry. DEHP may induce reproductive and developmental toxicity, obesity, carcinogenesis and cause abnormal endocrine function in both human and wildlife. The aim of this study was to investigate trace element and mineral levels in relation of kidney and liver damage in DEHP-administered rats. Therefore, prepubertal male rats were dosed with 0, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg/day of DEHP. At the end of the experiment, trace element and mineral levels, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGD), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzyme activities were evaluated in the serum, liver, and kidney samples of rats. Furthermore, serum clinical biochemistry parameters, organ/body weight ratios and histological changes were investigated to evaluate impact of DEHP more detailed. Our data indicated that sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), potassium (K), lithium (Li), rubidium (Rb) and cesium (Cs) levels significantly decreased, however iron (Fe) and selenium (Se) concentrations significantly increased in DEHP-administered groups compared to the control in the serum samples. On the other hand, upon DEHP administration, selenium concentration, G6PD and GR activities were significantly elevated, however 6-PGD activity significantly decreased compared to the control group in the kidney samples. Decreased G6PD activity was the only significant change between anti-oxidant enzyme activities in the liver samples. Upon DEHP administration, aberrant serum biochemical parameters have arisen and abnormal histological changes were observed in the kidney and liver tissue. In conclusion, DEHP may induce liver and kidney damage, also result abnormalities in the trace element and mineral levels.

Evaluation of the Quality of Beef Patties Formulated with Dried Pumpkin Pulp and Seed

PubMed Central

2018-01-01

The objective of this study was to investigate quality attributes of beef patties formulated with dried pumpkin pulp and seed mixture (PM). Four different meatball formulations were prepared where lean was replaced with PM as C (0% PM), P2 (2% PM), P3 (3% PM) and P5 (5% PM). Utilization of PM decreased moisture and increased ash content of the patties. Incorporation of 5% PM (P5) increased the pH value of both uncooked and cooked patties compared to C group. Increasing levels of PM increased water-holding capacity. No significant differences were found in cooking yield and diameter change with the addition of PM. Incorporation of PM increased fat and decreased moisture retention of the samples. a* values were decreased with PM addition, where L* values did not differ among treatments and b* values were similar in C, P3 and P5 samples. Textural properties were mostly equivalent to control samples with the incorporation of PM even at higher concentrations. The addition of PM did not significantly affect any of the sensory scores tested. These results indicated that utilization of PM presents the opportunity to decrease the amount of meat besides to improve healthier profile without causing negative changes in physical, chemical and technological quality of beef patties. PMID:29725220

Evaluation of the Quality of Beef Patties Formulated with Dried Pumpkin Pulp and Seed.

PubMed

Serdaroğlu, M; Kavuşan, H S; İpek, G; Öztürk, B

2018-02-01

The objective of this study was to investigate quality attributes of beef patties formulated with dried pumpkin pulp and seed mixture (PM). Four different meatball formulations were prepared where lean was replaced with PM as C (0% PM), P2 (2% PM), P3 (3% PM) and P5 (5% PM). Utilization of PM decreased moisture and increased ash content of the patties. Incorporation of 5% PM (P5) increased the pH value of both uncooked and cooked patties compared to C group. Increasing levels of PM increased water-holding capacity. No significant differences were found in cooking yield and diameter change with the addition of PM. Incorporation of PM increased fat and decreased moisture retention of the samples. a* values were decreased with PM addition, where L* values did not differ among treatments and b* values were similar in C, P3 and P5 samples. Textural properties were mostly equivalent to control samples with the incorporation of PM even at higher concentrations. The addition of PM did not significantly affect any of the sensory scores tested. These results indicated that utilization of PM presents the opportunity to decrease the amount of meat besides to improve healthier profile without causing negative changes in physical, chemical and technological quality of beef patties.

Role of intestinal flora imbalance in pathogenesis of pouchitis.

PubMed

Feng, Xiao-Bo; Jiang, Jun; Li, Min; Wang, Gang; You, Jin-Wei; Zuo, Jian

2016-08-01

To discuss the role of intestinal flora imbalance in the pathogenesis of pouchitis. The pouchitis rat model was established and the faeces sample and the mucous membrane sample were collected regularly, in which the bacterial nucleic acids were extracted for quantitative analysis of the intestinal flora in the samples through using the real-time quantitative PCR technique and high energy sequencing technology. The disorder phenomenon of the intestinal flora appeared at the 7th day of the experiment, and the pouchitis was presented at the 21st day of the experiment. At the 31st day of the experiment, compared to control group and non-pouchitis group, the quantity of Bifidobacterium and the Lactobacillus of the pouchitis model rats in the mucous membrane sample and the faeces sample were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), and the Bacteroidetes, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and XIV Clostridium leptum subgroup in the mucous membrane of pouchitis were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The IV Clostridium coccoides group was the main flora in the mucous membrane of pouchitis, the bacterial diversity of non-pouchitis group and control group was significantly higher than that of the pouchitis group (P < 0.05). The intestinal flora imbalance is one of the factors that cause the incidence of the pouchitis; this study provides a clue of the pathogenesis and treatment direction of the intestinal inflammatory disease. Copyright © 2016 Hainan Medical College. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of different bleaching strategies on microhardness of a silorane-based composite resin.

PubMed

Bahari, Mahmoud; Savadi Oskoee, Siavash; Mohammadi, Narmin; Ebrahimi Chaharom, Mohammad Esmaeel; Godrati, Mostafa; Savadi Oskoee, Ayda

2016-01-01

Background. Dentists' awareness of the effects of bleaching agents on the surface and mechanical properties of restorative materials is of utmost importance. Therefore, this in vitro study was undertaken to investigate the effects of different bleaching strategies on the microhardness of a silorane-based composite resin. Methods. Eighty samples of a silorane-based composite resin (measuring 4 mm in diameter and 2 mm in thickness) were prepared within acrylic molds. The samples were polished and randomly assigned to 4 groups (n=20). Group 1 (controls) were stored in distilled water for 2 weeks. The samples in group 2 underwent a bleaching procedure with 15% carbamide peroxide for two weeks two hours daily. The samples in group 3 were bleached with 35% hydrogen peroxide twice 5 days apart for 30 minutes each time. The samples in group 4 underwent a bleaching procedure with light-activated 35% hydrogen peroxide under LED light once for 40 minutes. Then the microhardness of the samples was determined using Vickers method. Data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey tests (P < 0.05). Results. All the bleaching agents significantly decreased microhardness compared to the control group (P < 0.05). In addition, there were significant differences in microhardness between groups 2 and 4 (P = 0.001) and between groups 3 and 4 (P<0.001). However, no significant differences were detected in microhardness between groups 2 and 3 (P > 0.05). Conclusion. Bleaching agents decreased microhardness of silorane-based composite resin restorations, the magnitude of which depending on the bleaching strategy used.

Mutagenic and genotoxic effects of Guelma's urban wastewater, Algeria.

PubMed

Tabet, Mouna; Abda, Ahlem; Benouareth, Djamel E; Liman, Recep; Konuk, Muhsin; Khallef, Messaouda; Taher, Ali

2015-02-01

Assessment of water pollution and its effect upon river biotic communities and human health is indispensable to develop control and management strategies. In this study, the mutagenicity and genotoxicity of urban wastewater of the city of Guelma in Algeria were examined between April 2012 and April 2013. For this, two biological tests, namely Amesand chromosomal aberrations (CA) test in Allium cepa root tips were employed on the samples collected from five different sampling stages (S1-S5). In Ames test, two strains of Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 with or without metabolic activation (S9-mix) were used. All water samples were found to be mutagenic to S. typhimurium TA98 with or without S9-mix. A significant decrease in mitotic index (MI) was observed with a decrease in the percentage of cells in the prophase and an increase in the telophase. Main aberrations observed were anaphase bridges, disturbed anaphase-telophase cells, vagrants and stickiness in anaphase-telophase cells. All treatments of wastewater in April 2012, at S5 in July 2012, at S1 and S5 in November 2012, at S5 in February 2013, and at S1 in April 2013 induced CA when compared to the negative control. Some physicochemical parameters and heavy metals (Cd, Pb, and Cu) were also recorded in the samples examined.

Quality and sensory acceptability of a chilled functional apple ready-dessert.

PubMed

Keenan, D F; Brunton, N P; Gormley, T R; Butler, F

2012-04-01

An apple and dairy based ready-dessert with an added prebiotic was stored and chill temperatures and number of quality attributes were monitored during chill (4 °C) storage for 30 days. All ready-desserts were thermally processed by sous vide (P (90) > 10 min). The stability of the dairy component in ready-desserts was monitored by measuring volatile free fatty acids. Changes in these components were more evident in prebiotic-enriched samples compared to controls. However, no significant differences were observed over storage in control and prebiotic-enriched ready-desserts. This was supported by sensory analysis that showed no significant changes over storage in control or prebiotic-enriched samples. Of the other quality parameters, the addition of prebiotic inclusions resulted in lower L and b values and dry matter (p < 0.05), while increasing (p < 0.05) soluble solids content compared to control samples. Fluctuations in some of the quality parameters were also observed over storage. Rheological characteristics, i.e. flow behaviour (n), consistency index (K), storage (G'), loss (G″) and complex (G*) moduli were unaffected by prebiotic inclusion. However, storage affected the rheological characteristics of ready-desserts. A decrease (p < 0.05) in flow behaviour (n) led to concomitant increases in consistency index (K) and complex modulus (G*) values in control samples.

Microbiological sampling of the atmosphere using a latex sounding balloon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adkins, W. P.; Bryan, N.; Christner, B. C.; Guzik, T. G.; Stewart, M. F.; Giammanco, J. R.

2010-12-01

The occurrence of microbes in the atmosphere has been the subject of scientific inquiry since Louis Pasteur’s time; however, data on the nature and diversity of microbial life in the upper troposphere and stratosphere is very limited. To experimentally address this, we have designed, constructed, and field-tested a lightweight, autonomous system that can sample at high altitudes using a latex sounding balloon. An important aspect of our sampling protocol is the ability to decontaminate and assess the level of background contamination during laboratory and field handling. Our approach involves the parallel decontamination and monitoring of 3 identical payloads: (i) one that remains in the laboratory, (ii) a control on the flight string, and (iii) a payload that opens and samples airborne particles in the atmosphere. Comparative analysis of various sterilization methods indicated that ethylene oxide was most effective at decreasing the concentration of DNA-containing cells, decreasing background cellular contamination by 94%. In conjunction, germicidal ultraviolet light, sodium hypochlorite, and 70% ethanol were used to decrease the concentration of microbes associated with payload surfaces. Bioaerosol collection is achieved by impact sampling on a 3.5 mm^2 retention surface covered with a thin layer of sterile silicone grease as the payload travels through the atmosphere. Initial flights have been successful in recovering viable microorganisms present in parcels of air at altitudes of 3 km to 9 km. Microscopic analysis on the collected cell assemblages implied that ~70% of the cells were potentially viable, and aerobic heterotrophic bacteria were cultured and isolated from liquid and agar-solidified culture media. Future plans include increasing the sampling altitude up to ~30 km in a series of discrete steps, maintaining our background controls and connection to lower altitude measurements. The pressure, temperature, and radiation levels in Earth’s stratosphere are similar to those on the surface of Mars. Thus, investigating life at altitudes of 30 km may indicate whether life could exist on extraterrestrial surfaces and provide the experimental technology and rationale to sample the atmospheres of other planets and moons in the solar system.

TU-AB-BRC-11: Moving a GPU-OpenCL-Based Monte Carlo (MC) Dose Engine Towards Routine Clinical Use: Automatic Beam Commissioning and Efficient Source Sampling

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tian, Z; Folkerts, M; Jiang, S

Purpose: We have previously developed a GPU-OpenCL-based MC dose engine named goMC with built-in analytical linac beam model. To move goMC towards routine clinical use, we have developed an automatic beam-commissioning method, and an efficient source sampling strategy to facilitate dose calculations for real treatment plans. Methods: Our commissioning method is to automatically adjust the relative weights among the sub-sources, through an optimization process minimizing the discrepancies between calculated dose and measurements. Six models built for Varian Truebeam linac photon beams (6MV, 10MV, 15MV, 18MV, 6MVFFF, 10MVFFF) were commissioned using measurement data acquired at our institution. To facilitate dose calculationsmore » for real treatment plans, we employed inverse sampling method to efficiently incorporate MLC leaf-sequencing into source sampling. Specifically, instead of sampling source particles control-point by control-point and rejecting the particles blocked by MLC, we assigned a control-point index to each sampled source particle, according to MLC leaf-open duration of each control-point at the pixel where the particle intersects the iso-center plane. Results: Our auto-commissioning method decreased distance-to-agreement (DTA) of depth dose at build-up regions by 36.2% averagely, making it within 1mm. Lateral profiles were better matched for all beams, with biggest improvement found at 15MV for which root-mean-square difference was reduced from 1.44% to 0.50%. Maximum differences of output factors were reduced to less than 0.7% for all beams, with largest decrease being from1.70% to 0.37% found at 10FFF. Our new sampling strategy was tested on a Head&Neck VMAT patient case. Achieving clinically acceptable accuracy, the new strategy could reduce the required history number by a factor of ∼2.8 given a statistical uncertainty level and hence achieve a similar speed-up factor. Conclusion: Our studies have demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of our auto-commissioning approach and new efficient source sampling strategy, implying the potential of our GPU-based MC dose engine goMC for routine clinical use.« less

Developmental toxicity of treated municipal wastewater effluent on Bombina orientalis (Amphibia: Anura) embryos.

PubMed

Park, Chan Jin; Ahn, Hyo Min; Cho, Seong Chan; Kim, Tae-Hoon; Oh, Jong-Min; Ahn, Hong Kyu; Chun, Seung-Hoon; Gye, Myung Chan

2014-04-01

Amphibian populations have been decreasing in urban freshwater systems in Korea. To elucidate the biological safety of treated wastewater effluent (TWE) in the Tancheon basin, the capital area of Korea, a 7-d-exposure Bombina orientalis embryo developmental toxicity assay was examined during the breeding season. In March, there were no significant differences in embryonic survival or malformation among the water samples. In July, following monsoon precipitation, embryonic lethality in TWE was significantly higher than in the upstream water sample. Malformation in TWE and TWE-mixed waters was significantly higher than in the control and upstream water samples. Tail muscle height of tadpoles also significantly decreased in TWE and TWE-mixed waters. Heavy metals were not detected in any samples. Total nitrogen, total phosphorous, and chemical oxygen demand in TWE markedly increased together with a decrease in dissolved oxygen in July. The increase in organic and inorganic loading following precipitation could have made TWE and TWE-mixed water not suitable for embryonic development. Though being managed based on physicochemical criteria, the water quality of TWE may not be sufficient to assure normal development of amphibian embryos. An amphibian developmental toxicity assay would be helpful for the water-quality management of TWE and urban freshwater systems in Korea. © 2014 SETAC.

Utilisation of construction and demolition waste as cemented paste backfill material for underground mine openings.

PubMed

Yılmaz, Tekin; Ercikdi, Bayram; Deveci, Hacı

2018-09-15

This study presents the utilisation of finely ground construction and demolition waste (CDW) as partial replacement (5-15 wt.%) to sulphide tailings on the short- and long-term strength, durability (i.e. no loss of strength) and microstructural properties of cemented paste backfill (CPB) over a curing period of 360 days. The CPB samples containing CDW were prepared at binder dosages of 7.5 and 8.5 wt.%, while control samples (full tailings) were only produced at 8.5 wt.% binder dosage. A total of 108 CPB samples were subjected to the unconfined compressive strength (UCS), acid/sulphate (pH, SO 4 2- ) and microstructure (MIP, XRD etc.) tests. Despite its limited contribution to the resistance of CPB to acid and sulphate attack, the use of CDW as partial replacement (5-15 wt.%) to sulphide tailings enhanced the strength properties of CPB samples by decreasing the total and macro porosity. The UCSs and pH values of CPB samples increased with increasing the CDW content in CPB mixtures, while the generation of sulphate ions (SO4 2- ) decreased irrespective of the binder dosages. Compared with control samples prepared at 8.5 wt.% binder dosage, 5.3-19.5% higher UCS values were obtained for the CPB samples containing 15 wt.% CDW prepared even at 7.5 wt.% binder dosage. Mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) analyses proved the beneficial effect of the use of CDW on the microstructural properties (i.e. total porosity) of CPB. These findings suggest that CDW materials can be suitably used as backfill material in the mining industry to fill underground voids created during the ore production. This offers safe disposal and hence environmentally sound management of CDW. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The impact of acute stress on the neural processing of food cues in bulimia nervosa: Replication in two samples.

PubMed

Collins, Brittany; Breithaupt, Lauren; McDowell, Jennifer E; Miller, L Stephen; Thompson, James; Fischer, Sarah

2017-07-01

The impact of acute stress on the neural processing of food cues in bulimia nervosa (BN) is unknown, despite theory that acute stress decreases cognitive control over food and hence increases vulnerability to environmental triggers for binge eating. Thus, the goals of this manuscript were to explore the impact of acute stress on the neural processing of food cues in BN. In Study 1, 10 women with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013) BN and 10 healthy controls participated in an fMRI paradigm examining the neural correlates of visual food cue processing pre and post an acute stress induction. Whole brain analysis indicated that women with BN exhibited significant decreases in activation in the precuneus, associated with self-referential processing, the paracingulate gyrus, and the anterior vermis of the cerebellum. Healthy controls exhibited increased activation in these regions in response to food cues poststress. In Study 2, 17 women with DSM-5 BN or otherwise specified feeding and eating disorder with BN symptoms participated in the same paradigm. A region of interest analysis replicated findings from Study 1. Replication of imaging findings in 2 different samples suggests the potential importance of these regions in relation to BN. Decreased activation in the precuneus, specifically, is consistent with models of BN that posit that binge eating serves as a concrete distraction from aversive internal stimuli. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

Fauna-associated changes in chemical and biochemical properties of soil.

PubMed

Tripathi, G; Sharma, B M

2006-12-01

To study the impacts of abundance of woodlice, termites, and mites on some functional aspects of soil in order to elucidate the specific role of soil fauna in improving soil fertility in desert. Fauna-rich sites were selected as experimental sites and adjacent areas were taken as control. Soil samples were collected from both sites. Soil respiration was measured at both sites. The soil samples were sent to laboratory, their chemical and biochemical properties were analyzed. Woodlice showed 25% decrease in organic carbon and organic matter as compared to control site. Whereas termites and mites showed 58% and 16% decrease in organic carbon and organic matter. In contrast, available nitrogen (nitrate and ammonical both) and phosphorus exhibited 2-fold and 1.2-fold increase, respectively. Soil respiration and dehydrogenase activity at the sites rich in woodlice, termites and mites produced 2.5-, 3.5- and 2-fold increases, respectively as compared to their control values. Fauna-associated increase in these biological parameters clearly reflected fauna-induced microbial activity in soil. Maximum decrease in organic carbon and increase in nitrate-nitrogen and ammonical-nitrogen, available phosphorus, soil respiration and dehydrogenase activity were produced by termites and minimum by mites reflecting termite as an efficient soil improver in desert environment. The soil fauna-associated changes in chemical (organic carbon, nitrate-nitrogen, ammonical-nitrogen, phosphorus) and biochemical (soil respiration, dehydrogenase activity) properties of soil improve soil health and help in conservation of desert pedoecosystem.

Relationship between sample volumes and modulus of human vertebral trabecular bone in micro-finite element analysis.

PubMed

Wen, Xin-Xin; Xu, Chao; Zong, Chun-Lin; Feng, Ya-Fei; Ma, Xiang-Yu; Wang, Fa-Qi; Yan, Ya-Bo; Lei, Wei

2016-07-01

Micro-finite element (μFE) models have been widely used to assess the biomechanical properties of trabecular bone. How to choose a proper sample volume of trabecular bone, which could predict the real bone biomechanical properties and reduce the calculation time, was an interesting problem. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between different sample volumes and apparent elastic modulus (E) calculated from μFE model. 5 Human lumbar vertebral bodies (L1-L5) were scanned by micro-CT. Cubic concentric samples of different lengths were constructed as the experimental groups and the largest possible volumes of interest (VOI) were constructed as the control group. A direct voxel-to-element approach was used to generate μFE models and steel layers were added to the superior and inferior surface to mimic axial compression tests. A 1% axial strain was prescribed to the top surface of the model to obtain the E values. ANOVA tests were performed to compare the E values from the different VOIs against that of the control group. Nonlinear function curve fitting was performed to study the relationship between volumes and E values. The larger cubic VOI included more nodes and elements, and more CPU times were needed for calculations. E values showed a descending tendency as the length of cubic VOI decreased. When the volume of VOI was smaller than (7.34mm(3)), E values were significantly different from the control group. The fit function showed that E values approached an asymptotic values with increasing length of VOI. Our study demonstrated that apparent elastic modulus calculated from μFE models were affected by the sample volumes. There was a descending tendency of E values as the length of cubic VOI decreased. Sample volume which was not smaller than (7.34mm(3)) was efficient enough and timesaving for the calculation of E. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Adaptive Peer Sampling with Newscast

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tölgyesi, Norbert; Jelasity, Márk

The peer sampling service is a middleware service that provides random samples from a large decentralized network to support gossip-based applications such as multicast, data aggregation and overlay topology management. Lightweight gossip-based implementations of the peer sampling service have been shown to provide good quality random sampling while also being extremely robust to many failure scenarios, including node churn and catastrophic failure. We identify two problems with these approaches. The first problem is related to message drop failures: if a node experiences a higher-than-average message drop rate then the probability of sampling this node in the network will decrease. The second problem is that the application layer at different nodes might request random samples at very different rates which can result in very poor random sampling especially at nodes with high request rates. We propose solutions for both problems. We focus on Newscast, a robust implementation of the peer sampling service. Our solution is based on simple extensions of the protocol and an adaptive self-control mechanism for its parameters, namely—without involving failure detectors—nodes passively monitor local protocol events using them as feedback for a local control loop for self-tuning the protocol parameters. The proposed solution is evaluated by simulation experiments.

Investigating the effect of aqueous extracts of basil and savory on antioxidant activity, microbial and sensory properties of probiotic yogurt.

PubMed

Mosiyani, Zohreh Ghaleh; Pourahmad, Rezvan; Eshaghi, Mohammad Reza

2017-01-01

The low viability of probiotics causes the short shelf life of fermented products. Therefore compounds which prolong the viability of probiotic bacteria can increase or at least maintain the health- benefiting properties of these products. On the other hand, the addition of antioxidants is one of the methods to increase the shelf life of food products which has recently become more prevalent. In this respect, herbal extracts which are a good source of antioxidants can be appropriate alternative. The aim of this study was  to evaluate the effect of adding basil and savory extracts on antioxidant activity, and on the microbial and organoleptic characteristics of probiotic yogurt. The effect of adding basil extract (8% and 10%) and savory extract (6% and 8%) separately to low fat yogurt (1.5% fat) containing Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei was investigated. The samples were stored at 4°C. The viability of Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei, antioxidant activ- ity and sensory properties of probiotic yogurt were evaluated on the 1st, 7th, 14th and 21st days. Basil and savory extracts significantly increased the viability of probiotic bacteria (p < 0.05). Dur- ing storage, probiotic counts markedly decreased (p < 0.05) in comparison to the control sample. The addi- tion of herbal extracts significantly increased antioxidant activity, but this activity decreased during storage (p < 0.05). The scores for taste, odor, color and overall acceptance decreased as herbal extracts increased, but there was no significant difference between the test samples and control sample in terms of the texture score (p > 0.05). During storage, there was no significant difference between the organoleptic scores of the samples (p > 0.05), but the taste score did increase significantly (p < 0.05). It can be concluded that adding herbal extracts had a positive effect on the viability of probiotics and antioxidant activity of probiotic yogurt.

Effect of e-beam irradiation and microwave heating on the fatty acid composition and volatile compound profile of grass carp surimi

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Hongfei; Wang, Wei; Wang, Haiyan; Ye, Qingfu

2017-01-01

In this study, we evaluated the effects of e-beam irradiation（1-7 kGy） and irradiation coupled to microwave heating (e-I-MC, 70 °C internal temperature) on the fatty acid composition and volatile compound profile of grass carp surimi. Compared to control samples, e-beam irradiation generated three novel volatile compounds (heptane, 2,6-dimethyl-nonane, and dimethyl disulfide) and increased the relative proportions of alcohols, aldehydes, and ketones. Meanwhile, e-I-MC significantly increased aldehyde levels and generated five heterocyclic compounds along with these three novel compounds. No significant difference in volatile compounds were detected in e-I-MC samples with increasing irradiation dose (p>0.05), comparing to the control group. E-beam irradiation at 5 and 7 kGy increased the levels of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and decreased the levels of unsaturated fatty acids (p≤0.05), but did not affect the content of trans fatty acid levels (p>0.05). Irradiation, which had no significant effects on (Eicosapentaenoic acid) EPA, decreased (Docose Hexaenoie Acid) DHA levels. In the e-I-MC group, SFA levels increased and PUFA levels decreased. Additionally, MUFA levels were unaffected and trans fatty acid levels increased slightly following e-I-MC.

The first 62 AGNs observed with SDSS-IV MaNGA - I. Their characterization and definition of a control sample

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rembold, Sandro B.; Shimoia, Jáderson S.; Storchi-Bergmann, Thaisa; Riffel, Rogério; Riffel, Rogemar A.; Mallmann, Nícolas D.; do Nascimento, Janaína C.; Moreira, Thales N.; Ilha, Gabriele S.; Machado, Alice D.; Cirolini, Rafael; da Costa, Luiz N.; Maia, Marcio A. G.; Santiago, Basílio X.; Schneider, Donald P.; Wylezalek, Dominika; Bizyaev, Dmitry; Pan, Kaike; Müller-Sánchez, Francisco

2017-12-01

We report the characterization of the first 62 Mapping Nearby Galaxies at the Apache Point Observatory active galactic nuclei (AGNs) hosts and the definition of a control sample of non-active galaxies. This control sample was selected in order to match the AGN hosts in terms of stellar mass, redshift, visual morphology and inclination. The stellar masses are in the range 9.4

Comparison of a gratitude-based and cognitive restructuring intervention for body dissatisfaction and dysfunctional eating behavior in college women.

PubMed

Wolfe, Wendy L; Patterson, Kaitlyn

2017-01-01

Researchers have investigated the efficacy of a gratitude intervention for decreasing body dissatisfaction (BD) in an internet treatment-seeking sample and demonstrated it worked equally well to decrease BD as cognitive restructuring. We extend this research by testing the efficacy of a gratitude intervention on BD, along with common sequelae of BD: dysfunctional eating, negative mood, and depressive symptoms. Females were randomly assigned to Gratitude, Cognitive Restructuring, or Control conditions. Pre- to post-intervention period comparisons found the gratitude intervention to perform better than the other conditions at increasing body esteem, decreasing BD, reducing dysfunctional eating, and reducing depressive symptoms.

The first 62 AGN observed with SDSS-IV MaNGA - II: resolved stellar populations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mallmann, Nícolas Dullius; Riffel, Rogério; Storchi-Bergmann, Thaisa; Barboza Rembold, Sandro; Riffel, Rogemar A.; Schimoia, Jaderson; da Costa, Luiz Nicolaci; Ávila-Reese, Vladimir; Sanchez, Sebastian F.; Machado, Alice D.; Cirolini, Rafael; Ilha, Gabriele S.; do Nascimento, Janaína C.

2018-05-01

We present spatially resolved stellar population age maps, average radial profiles and gradients for the first 62 Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) observed with SDSS-IV MaNGA to study the effects of the active nuclei on the star formation history of the host galaxies. These results, derived using the STARLIGHT code, are compared with a control sample of non-active galaxies matching the properties of the AGN hosts. We find that the fraction of young stellar populations (SP) in high-luminosity AGN is higher in the inner (R≤0.5 Re) regions when compared with the control sample; low-luminosity AGN, on the other hand, present very similar fractions of young stars to the control sample hosts for the entire studied range (1 Re). The fraction of intermediate age SP of the AGN hosts increases outwards, with a clear enhancement when compared with the control sample. The inner region of the galaxies (AGN and control galaxies) presents a dominant old SP, whose fraction decreases outwards. We also compare our results (differences between AGN and control galaxies) for the early and late-type hosts and find no significant differences. In summary, our results suggest that the most luminous AGN seems to have been triggered by a recent supply of gas that has also triggered recent star formation (t ≤ 40 Myrs) in the central region.

The effects of foot reflexology on anxiety and pain in patients with breast and lung cancer.

PubMed

Stephenson, N L; Weinrich, S P; Tavakoli, A S

2000-01-01

To test the effects of foot reflexology on anxiety and pain in patients with breast and lung cancer. Quasi-experimental, pre/post, crossover. A medical/oncology unit in a 314-bed hospital in the southeastern United States. Twenty-three inpatients with breast or lung cancer. The majority of the sample were female, Caucasian, and 65 years or older; had 12 or fewer years of education and an annual income of $20,000 or more; and were receiving regularly scheduled opioids and adjuvant medications on the control and intervention day. Procedures included an intervention condition (foot reflexology to both feet for 30 minutes total by a certified reflexologist) and a control condition for each patient (with at least a two-day break). No changes were made in patients' regular schedule or medications. Anxiety and pain. Following the foot reflexology intervention, patients with breast and lung cancer experienced a significant decrease in anxiety. One of three pain measures showed that patients with breast cancer experienced a significant decrease in pain. The significant decrease in anxiety observed in this sample of patients with breast and lung cancer following foot reflexology suggests that this may be a self-care approach to decrease anxiety in this patient population. Professionals and lay people can be taught reflexology. Foot reflexology is an avenue for human touch, can be performed anywhere, requires no special equipment, is noninvasive, and does not interfere with patients' privacy.

Bioretention storm water control measures decrease the toxicity of copper roof runoff.

PubMed

LaBarre, William J; Ownby, David R; Rader, Kevin J; Lev, Steven M; Casey, Ryan E

2017-06-01

The present study evaluated the ability of 2 different bioretention storm water control measures (SCMs), planter boxes and swales, to decrease the toxicity of sheet copper (Cu) roofing runoff to Daphnia magna. The present study quantified changes in storm water chemistry as it passed through the bioretention systems and utilized the biotic ligand model (BLM) to assess whether the observed D. magna toxicity could be predicted by variations found in water chemistry. Laboratory toxicity tests were performed using select storm samples with D. magna cultured under low ionic strength conditions that were appropriate for the low ionic strength of the storm water samples being tested. The SCMs decreased toxicity of Cu roof runoff in both the BLM results and the storm water bioassays. Water exiting the SCMs was substantially higher than influent runoff in pH, ions, alkalinity, and dissolved organic carbon and substantially lower in total and dissolved Cu. Daphnids experienced complete mortality in untreated runoff from the Cu roof (the SCM influent); however, for planter and swale effluents, survival averaged 86% and 95%, respectively. The present study demonstrated that conventional bioretention practices, including planter boxes and swales, are capable of decreasing the risk of adverse effects from sheet Cu roof runoff to receiving systems, even before considering dilution of effluents in those receiving systems and associated further reductions in copper bioavailability. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:1680-1688. © 2016 SETAC. © 2016 SETAC.

Cardiac morphology after conditions of microgravity during Cosmos 2044

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goldstein, Margaret A.; Edwards, Robert J.; Schroeter, John P.

1992-01-01

Light- and electron-microscopic studies were performed on cardiac muscle from rats flown on Cosmos 2044 and from four control groups. Average cross-sectional area of myofibers was measured by video analysis of the light-microscopic images of papillary and ventricular muscle samples from all animals. This cross-sectional area was significantly decreased in flight rats (P = 0.03) compared with synchronous controls. Additional findings at the electron microscopic level consistent with this atrophy were obtained by stereological analysis and optical diffraction analysis of papillary muscle samples. Slightly higher mitochondrial volume density values and mitochondria-to-myofibril ratios as well as normal A-band spacings (d1,0) and Z-band spacings of myofibrils were observed in the tail-suspension and flight groups. General morphological features similar to those in ventricular samples from the previous Cosmos 1887 flight were observed.

Some physical properties of naturally irradiated fluorite

USGS Publications Warehouse

Berman, Robert

1955-01-01

Five samples of purple fluorite found in association with radioactive, materials, and a synthetic colorless control sample were studied and compared.  Before and after heating, observations were made on specific gravity, index of refraction, unit-cell size, breadth of X-ray diffraction lines, and fluorescence.  The purple samples became colorless on heating above 175° C.  During the process, observations were made on color, thermoluminescence, and differential thermal analysis curves.  There were strong correlations between the various physical properties, and it was found possible to arrange the samples in order of increasing difference in their physical properties from the control sample. This order apparently represents increasing structural damage by radiation; if so, it correlates with decreasing specific gravity, increasing index of refraction, broadening of X-ray lines, and increasingly strong exothermic reactions on annealing. The differences between the samples in index of refraction and X-ray pattern are largely eliminated on annealing.  Annealing begins at 1750 C; thermoluminescence at lower temperatures is due to electrons escaping from the metastable potential traps, not the destruction of those traps which takes place on annealing.

Influence of dietary supplementation with Lactobacillus reuteri on the oral flora of healthy subjects.

PubMed

Sinkiewicz, Gabriela; Cronholm, Sofie; Ljunggren, Lennart; Dahlén, Gunnar; Bratthall, Gunilla

2010-01-01

Investigate the presence of Lactobacillus reuteri in saliva after supplementation with L. reuteri and the probiotic effect of L. reuteri on plaque index and supra- and subgingival microbiota. The study included 23 healthy individuals, randomised into test or control subjects. At baseline and after 12 weeks saliva samples, plaque index and supra- and subgingival plaque samples were obtained. The test subjects were given the study product (containing L. reuteri, ATCC 55730 and ATCC PTA 5289) and the control subjects placebo for 12 weeks. Microbiological analyses were done by checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization technique and selective culturing for lactobacilli determination. A significant increase in total Lactobacillus counts in saliva occurred in both groups (p < 0.05) with a significant increase of L. reuteri (p = 0.008) in the test group.Termination of intervention resulted in a wash out of L. reuteri. The control group demonstrated a statistically significant increase in PII after 12 weeks (p = 0.023) whilst there was no significant change in the test group. A significant increase was found for most bacterial species in both groups in supra- and subgingival plaque with no significant difference for any of the species between the groups. The ratio between "bad/good" supragingival bacteria decreased for the test group but this decrease did not reach significance. The corresponding ratio for subgingival bacteria decreased significantly in both groups. Supplementation of L. reuteri resulted in presence of L. reuteri in saliva but L. reuteri was washed out after termination of intervention. No significant effect on supra- or subgingival microbiota was observed. The significant increase in PII in the control group with no significant change in the test group may, however, indicate a probiotic effect of L. reuteri in this study population.

The white blood cell line: changes induced in mice by hypergravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goldstein, Orna; Ishay, Jacob S.

The effect of hypergravity on the white blood cell (WBC) line of mice was investigated by use of horizontal centrifuge. Several sets of experiments were performed, in which the parameters measured were the WBC and differential cell count in the peripheral blood. In another experiment, lymphocyte counts from the spleen, lymph nodes, and the thymus were measured. The needed samples were taken from the mice during a stay of 7-40 days under a hypergravity of 1.6G. The test groups that were placed on the arms of the centrifuge (1.6G) were compared with stationary control groups (1G) and a rotating control group located at the center of the centrifuge (1G). Such a comparison revealed the test animals to be deficient on all counts, to wit, showing a decrease in total number of WBC's, a decrease in lymphocyte number in the peripheral blood and a decrease in the number of lymphocyte in the spleen and thymus. The decrease of lymphocytes in peripheral blood was characterized by two different slopes - an early and temporary decrease at the first days of the experiment evident in both test and rotating control groups followed by a temporary increase, and a later persistent decrease, evident only in the test group, while in the rotating control lymphocyte counts reverted to normal. There were no significant differences in monocyte or neutrophil counts, except for a temporary increase in the number of neutrophils which peaked on the seventh day. In order to evaluate the effect of hypergravity on restoration of hematopoiesis following hematopoietic suppression, 5-fluoro-uracil (5-FU) was administered i.v. to both the experimental and control mice. Suppression of bone marrow was observed in all groups injected with 5-FU, but while there was later an increase in cell counts in the control groups, there was no such increase in the test group subjected to hypergravity.

Size-Tuned Plastic Flow Localization in Irradiated Materials at the Submicron Scale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, Yinan; Po, Giacomo; Ghoniem, Nasr

2018-05-01

Three-dimensional discrete dislocation dynamics (3D-DDD) simulations reveal that, with reduction of sample size in the submicron regime, the mechanism of plastic flow localization in irradiated materials transitions from irradiation-controlled to an intrinsic dislocation source controlled. Furthermore, the spatial correlation of plastic deformation decreases due to weaker dislocation interactions and less frequent cross slip as the system size decreases, thus manifesting itself in thinner dislocation channels. A simple model of discrete dislocation source activation coupled with cross slip channel widening is developed to reproduce and physically explain this transition. In order to quantify the phenomenon of plastic flow localization, we introduce a "deformation localization index," with implications to the design of radiation-resistant materials.

Cross-reactive antibodies against GM2 and CMV-infected fibroblasts in Guillain-Barré syndrome.

PubMed

Ang, C W; Jacobs, B C; Brandenburg, A H; Laman, J D; van der Meché, F G; Osterhaus, A D; van Doorn, P A

2000-04-11

To investigate whether anti-GM2 antibodies in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) are induced by molecular mimicry with cytomegalovirus (CMV). Antibodies against ganglioside GM2 are frequently present in the serum from GBS patients with an antecedent infection with CMV. The authors detected inhibition of anti-GM2 reactivity after incubation of GM2-reactive serum samples with fibroblasts infected with a GBS-associated CMV strain. Control sera consisted of GQ1b-reactive samples, and control antigens included uninfected fibroblasts and fibroblasts that were infected with other herpes viruses. Serum immunoglobulin M reactivity with GM2 was decreased in a dose-dependent manner after incubation with CMV-infected fibroblasts. Incubation of anti-GM2-positive serum samples with uninfected fibroblasts and fibroblasts infected with varicella zoster virus did not inhibit anti-GM2 reactivity, whereas this reactivity was slightly decreased after incubation with herpes simplex virus type 1 in one patient. Antibodies against ganglioside GQ1b did not react with CMV-infected fibroblasts. CMV-infected fibroblasts express gangliosidelike epitopes that recognize specifically anti-GM2 antibodies. These results support the hypothesis that antiganglioside antibodies in CMV-infected GBS patients are induced by molecular mimicry between GM2 and antigens that are induced by a CMV infection.

Adrenal hormones before and after venography during adrenal venous sampling: a self-controlled study.

PubMed

Koike, Yuya; Matsui, Seishi; Omura, Masao; Makita, Kohzoh; Obara, Alfonso W D; Moriya, Nobukazu; Nishikawa, Tetsuo

2017-03-01

A stress reaction involving increased adrenal hormone release occurs when starting adrenal venous sampling (AVS). The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of single shot venography on adrenal hormone production during AVS. This was a prospective self-controlled study. We enrolled 54 consecutive patients (21 men, 33 women; mean age 52 ± 11 years) with primary aldosteronism who underwent AVS from May 2014 to February 2015. Under non-stimulated conditions, blood samples were obtained from a common trunk of the left adrenal vein before and after single shot venography. The initial plasma aldosterone and cortisol concentration (PAC and PCC) were compared with those measured after venography for each patient. PAC and PCC were slightly but significantly decreased between before and after venography (after log transformation 2.12 ± 0.73 vs 2.07 ± 0.72, P = 0.00066, 1.89 ± 0.52 vs 1.83 ± 0.53, P = 0.00031, respectively). During non-stimulated left AVS, adrenal hormone secretion was slightly but significantly decreased after venography, similar to the normal time-related stress reaction. Venography did not increase the adrenal hormone secretion.

Temporal trends of bulk precipitation and stream water chemistry (1977-1997) in a small forested area, Krusne hory, northern Bohemia, Czech Republic

USGS Publications Warehouse

Peters, N.E.; Cerny, J.; Havel, M.; Krejci, R.

1999-01-01

The Krusne hory (Erzgebirge or Ore Mountains) has been heavily affected by high atmospheric pollutant deposition caused by fossil fuel combustion in an adjacent Tertiary coal basin. Long-term routine sampling of bulk precipitation (1977-1996) and stream water (1977-1998) in a forested area on the south-eastern slope of the mountains were used to evaluate trends and patterns in solute concentration and flux with respect to controlling processes. From 1977 to 1996, the annual volume-weighted Ca2+ and SO42- concentrations decreased in bulk precipitation. However, after 1989, when a pronounced and continuous decrease occurred in coal production, annual volume-weighted concentrations decreased for most solutes, except H+. The concentration decreases were marked, with 1996 levels at or below 50% of those in 1989. The lack of a trend in H+ is attributed to similar decreases in both acid anions and neutralizing base cations. Stream water concentrations of most solutes, i.e. H+, Ca2+, Mg2+, SO42- and NO3-, were highest at the onset of sampling in 1977, decreased markedly from 1977 to 1983 and decreased more gradually from 1983 to 1998. The spruce forest die-back and removal reduced dry deposition of these solutes by reducing the filtering action, which was provided by the forest canopy. A notable decrease in stream water Ca2+ concentrations occurred after 1995 and may be due to the depletion of Ca2+, which was provided by catchment liming in 1986, 1988 and 1989. Solute flux trends in bulk atmospheric deposition and stream water generally were not significant and the lack of trend is attributed to the large interannual variability in precipitation quantity and runoff, respectively. All solutes except Na+ varied seasonally. The average seasonal concentrations varied between the solutes, but for most solutes were highest in winter and spring and lowest in summer, correlating with the seasonal trend and runoff. For Ca2+, Mg2+ and SO42-, the concentration minimum occurs in September and the maximum occurs in February or March, correlating with the seasonal baseflow. These solutes are primarily controlled by the contribution of soil water and groundwater to stream flow. During snowmelt, the meltwater generally causes concentrations to decrease as soil water and groundwater are diluted. For NO3, average minimum concentrations occur in August at the end of the growing season concurrent with the lowest stream flow, and the maximum occurs in February and March with high stream flow during snowmelt. Seasonal stream water NO3- concentration variations are large compared with the long-term decrease.The Krusne hory (Erzgebirge or Ore Mountains) has been heavily affected by high atmospheric pollutant deposition caused by fossil fuel combustion in an adjacent Tertiary coal basin. Long-term routine sampling of bulk precipitation (1977-1996) and stream water (1977-1998) in a forested area on the south-eastern slope of the mountains were used to evaluate trends and patterns in solute concentration and flux with respect to controlling processes. From 1977 to 1996, the annual volume-weighted Ca2+ and SO42- concentrations decreased in bulk precipitation. However, after 1989, when a pronounced and continuous decrease occurred in coal production, annual volume-weighted concentrations decreased for most solutes, except H+. The concentration decreases were marked, with 1996 levels at or below 50% of those in 1989. The lack of a trend in H+ is attributed to similar decreases in both acid anions and neutralizing base cations. Stream water concentrations of most solutes, i.e. H+, Ca2+, Mg2+, SO42- and NO3-, were highest at the onset of sampling in 1977, decreased markedly from 1977 to 1983 and decreased more gradually from 1983 to 1998. The spruce forest die-back and removal reduced dry deposition of these solutes by reducing the filtering action, which was provided by the forest canopy. A notable decrease in stream water Ca2+ concentrations occurred after 1995 an

Associations between positive and negative affect and 12-month physical disorders in a national sample.

PubMed

Weiser, Eric B

2012-06-01

Associations between positive and negative affect and a range of 12-month physical disorders were investigated in the Midlife Development in the United States Survey, a nationally representative sample of 3,032 adults ages 25-74. These associations were examined, controlling for relevant sociodemographic and psychiatric covariates. High positive affect was associated with decreased risk of physical disorders, whereas high negative affect was associated with increased risk. However, associations between positive affect and physical disorders were partially attenuated following adjustment for concurrent negative affect. Additionally, high affect balance was associated with decreased risk of physical disorders before and after adjustments. These findings underscore the relevance of affective disposition in health status, suggesting that both positive and negative affect may serve as viable health risk parameters.

Chemicals and microbes in bioaerosols from reaction tanks of six wastewater treatment plants: survival factors, generation sources, and mechanisms.

PubMed

Wang, Yanjie; Lan, Huachun; Li, Lin; Yang, Kaixiong; Qu, Jiuhui; Liu, Junxin

2018-06-19

Sampling was conducted from biochemical reaction tanks of six municipal wastewater treatment plants in the Yangtze River and Zhujiang deltas and the Jing-Jin-Ji region to assess their morphology, level, and composition. Morphological observations suggested that particles were scattered amorphously with C, O, and Si as the major elements. Bioaerosols are composed of spatially varying levels of microorganisms and chemicals. As the sampling height increased, the level of the components in the bioaerosols decreased. Wastewater in the biochemical reaction tanks was identified as an important source of bioaerosols using SourceTracker analysis. The aerosolization of film drops produced by bursting of bubbles was the main reason for the generation of bioaerosols. Increasing the aeration rate of water may promote bioaerosol generation. Relative humidity, temperature, wind speed, and solar illumination influenced the survival of bioaerosols. Large particle sedimentation and wind diffusion significantly decreased the atmospheric aerosol concentration. When the sampling point height increased from 0.1 m to 3.0 m, the concentrations of the microorganisms and total suspended particles decreased by 23.71% and 38.74%, respectively. Considerable attention should be paid to the control of total suspended particles and microorganisms in bioaerosols.

Comparison of Address-based Sampling and Random-digit Dialing Methods for Recruiting Young Men as Controls in a Case-Control Study of Testicular Cancer Susceptibility

PubMed Central

Clagett, Bartholt; Nathanson, Katherine L.; Ciosek, Stephanie L.; McDermoth, Monique; Vaughn, David J.; Mitra, Nandita; Weiss, Andrew; Martonik, Rachel; Kanetsky, Peter A.

2013-01-01

Random-digit dialing (RDD) using landline telephone numbers is the historical gold standard for control recruitment in population-based epidemiologic research. However, increasing cell-phone usage and diminishing response rates suggest that the effectiveness of RDD in recruiting a random sample of the general population, particularly for younger target populations, is decreasing. In this study, we compared landline RDD with alternative methods of control recruitment, including RDD using cell-phone numbers and address-based sampling (ABS), to recruit primarily white men aged 18–55 years into a study of testicular cancer susceptibility conducted in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area between 2009 and 2012. With few exceptions, eligible and enrolled controls recruited by means of RDD and ABS were similar with regard to characteristics for which data were collected on the screening survey. While we find ABS to be a comparably effective method of recruiting young males compared with landline RDD, we acknowledge the potential impact that selection bias may have had on our results because of poor overall response rates, which ranged from 11.4% for landline RDD to 1.7% for ABS. PMID:24008901

Retention of Polyphenolic Species in Spray-Dried Blackberry Extract Using Mannitol as a Thermoprotectant

PubMed Central

Eldridge, Joshua A.; Repko, Debra

2014-01-01

Abstract The purpose of these studies was to determine if a Büchi Mini Spray Dryer B-290 (Büchi Corporation, New Castle, DE, USA) could be used to prepare blackberry extract powders containing mannitol as a thermoprotectant without extensively degrading anthocyanins and polyphenols in the resulting powders. Three blackberry puree extract samples were each prepared by sonication of puree in 30/70% ethanol/water containing 0.003% HCl. Blackberry puree extract sample 1 (S1) contained no mannitol, while blackberry puree extract sample 2 (S2) contained 3.0:1 (w/w) mannitol:berry extract, and blackberry puree extract sample 3 (S3) contained 6.3:1 (w/w) mannitol:berry extract. The levels of anthocyanins and polyphenols in reconstituted spray-dried powders produced from S1–S3 were compared to solutions of S1–S3 that were held at 4°C as controls. All extract samples could be spray-dried using the Büchi Mini Spray Dryer B-290. S1, with no mannitol, showed a 30.8% decrease in anthocyanins and a 24.1% decrease in polyphenols following spray-drying. However, S2 had a reduction in anthocyanins of only 13.8%, while polyphenols were reduced by only 6.1%. S3, with a ratio of mannitol to berry extract of 6.3:1, exhibited a 12.5% decrease in anthocyanins while the decrease in polyphenols after spray-drying was not statistically significant (P=.16). Collectively, these data indicate that a Büchi Mini Spray Dryer B-290 is a suitable platform for producing stable berry extract powders, and that mannitol is a suitable thermoprotectant that facilitates retention of thermosensitive polyphenolic species in berry extracts during spray-drying. PMID:24892214

Dose-response effects of dietary pequi oil on fermentation characteristics and microbial population using a rumen simulation technique (Rusitec).

PubMed

Duarte, Andrea Camacho; Durmic, Zoey; Vercoe, Philip E; Chaves, Alexandre V

2017-12-01

The effect of increasing the concentration of commercial pequi (Caryocar brasiliense) oil on fermentation characteristics and abundance of methanogens and fibrolityc bacteria was evaluated using the rumen simulation technique (Rusitec). In vitro incubation was performed over 15 days using a basal diet consisting of ryegrass, maize silage and concentrate in equal proportions. Treatments consisted of control diet (no pequi oil inclusion, 0 g/kg DM), pequi dose 1 (45 g/kg DM), and pequi dose 2 (91 g/kg DM). After a 7 day adaptation period, samples for fermentation parameters (total gas, methane, and VFA production) were taken on a daily basis. Quantitative real time PCR (q-PCR) was used to evaluate the abundance of the main rumen cellulolytic bacteria, as well as abundance of methanogens. Supplementation with pequi oil did not reduce overall methane production (P = 0.97), however a tendency (P = 0.06) to decrease proportion of methane in overall microbial gas was observed. Increasing addition of pequi oil was associated with a linear decrease (P < 0.01) in dry matter disappearance of maize silage. The abundance of total methanogens was unchanged by the addition of pequi oil, but numbers of those belonging to Methanomassiliicoccaceae decreased in liquid-associated microbes (LAM) samples (P < 0.01) and solid-associated microbes (SAM) samples (P = 0.09) respectively, while Methanobrevibacter spp. increased (P < 0.01) only in SAM samples. Fibrobacter succinogenes decreased (P < 0.01) in both LAM and SAM samples when substrates were supplemented with pequi oil. In conclusion, pequi oil was ineffective in mitigating methane emissions and had some adverse effects on digestibility and selected fibrolytic bacteria. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Applying sensory modulation to mental health inpatient care to reduce seclusion and restraint: a case control study.

PubMed

Andersen, Charlotte; Kolmos, Anne; Andersen, Kjeld; Sippel, Volkmar; Stenager, Elsebeth

2017-10-01

Clinical training in managing conflicts and preventing violence seldom contains sensory modulation (SM) as a method to de-escalate and prevent restraint and seclusion. Sensory-based interventions promote adaptive regulation of arousal and emotion. SM is a complementary approach that is associated with reduced rates of seclusion and restraint in mental healthcare, but there is need for more research in this area. Using SM to reduce restraint and seclusion in inpatient mental health care. The study included two similar psychiatric units where one unit implemented SM and one unit served as the control group. In the very beginning of the study, a staff-training program in the use of SM including assessment tools and intervention strategies was established. Data on restraint and forced medicine were sampled post the course of the year of implementation and compared with the control group. The use of belts decreased with 38% compared to the control group. The use of forced medication decreased with 46% compared to the control group. Altogether the use of physical restraint and forced medication decreased significantly with 42% (p < .05). Implementing a SM approach in mental healthcare facilities has a significant effect on the reduction of restraint and seclusion. As a part of the implementation, staff training and education in SM are crucial.

Genome-wide measures of DNA methylation in peripheral blood and the risk of urothelial cell carcinoma: a prospective nested case–control study

PubMed Central

Dugué, Pierre-Antoine; Brinkman, Maree T; Milne, Roger L; Wong, Ee Ming; FitzGerald, Liesel M; Bassett, Julie K; Joo, Jihoon E; Jung, Chol-Hee; Makalic, Enes; Schmidt, Daniel F; Park, Daniel J; Chung, Jessica; Ta, Anthony D; Bolton, Damien M; Lonie, Andrew; Longano, Anthony; Hopper, John L; Severi, Gianluca; Saffery, Richard; English, Dallas R; Southey, Melissa C; Giles, Graham G

2016-01-01

Background: Global DNA methylation has been reported to be associated with urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) by studies using blood samples collected at diagnosis. Using the Illumina HumanMethylation450 assay, we derived genome-wide measures of blood DNA methylation and assessed them for their prospective association with UCC risk. Methods: We used 439 case–control pairs from the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study matched on age, sex, country of birth, DNA sample type, and collection period. Conditional logistic regression was used to compute odds ratios (OR) of UCC risk per s.d. of each genome-wide measure of DNA methylation and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusted for potential confounders. We also investigated associations by disease subtype, sex, smoking, and time since blood collection. Results: The risk of superficial UCC was decreased for individuals with higher levels of our genome-wide DNA methylation measure (OR=0.71, 95% CI: 0.54–0.94; P=0.02). This association was particularly strong for current smokers at sample collection (OR=0.47, 95% CI: 0.27–0.83). Intermediate levels of our genome-wide measure were associated with decreased risk of invasive UCC. Some variation was observed between UCC subtypes and the location and regulatory function of the CpGs included in the genome-wide measures of methylation. Conclusions: Higher levels of our genome-wide DNA methylation measure were associated with decreased risk of superficial UCC and intermediate levels were associated with reduced risk of invasive disease. These findings require replication by other prospective studies. PMID:27490804

Genome-wide measures of DNA methylation in peripheral blood and the risk of urothelial cell carcinoma: a prospective nested case-control study.

PubMed

Dugué, Pierre-Antoine; Brinkman, Maree T; Milne, Roger L; Wong, Ee Ming; FitzGerald, Liesel M; Bassett, Julie K; Joo, Jihoon E; Jung, Chol-Hee; Makalic, Enes; Schmidt, Daniel F; Park, Daniel J; Chung, Jessica; Ta, Anthony D; Bolton, Damien M; Lonie, Andrew; Longano, Anthony; Hopper, John L; Severi, Gianluca; Saffery, Richard; English, Dallas R; Southey, Melissa C; Giles, Graham G

2016-09-06

Global DNA methylation has been reported to be associated with urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) by studies using blood samples collected at diagnosis. Using the Illumina HumanMethylation450 assay, we derived genome-wide measures of blood DNA methylation and assessed them for their prospective association with UCC risk. We used 439 case-control pairs from the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study matched on age, sex, country of birth, DNA sample type, and collection period. Conditional logistic regression was used to compute odds ratios (OR) of UCC risk per s.d. of each genome-wide measure of DNA methylation and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusted for potential confounders. We also investigated associations by disease subtype, sex, smoking, and time since blood collection. The risk of superficial UCC was decreased for individuals with higher levels of our genome-wide DNA methylation measure (OR=0.71, 95% CI: 0.54-0.94; P=0.02). This association was particularly strong for current smokers at sample collection (OR=0.47, 95% CI: 0.27-0.83). Intermediate levels of our genome-wide measure were associated with decreased risk of invasive UCC. Some variation was observed between UCC subtypes and the location and regulatory function of the CpGs included in the genome-wide measures of methylation. Higher levels of our genome-wide DNA methylation measure were associated with decreased risk of superficial UCC and intermediate levels were associated with reduced risk of invasive disease. These findings require replication by other prospective studies.

Inhibition of mirtazapine metabolism by Ecstasy (MDMA) in isolated perfused rat liver model.

PubMed

Jamshidfar, Sanaz; Ardakani, Yalda H; Lavasani, Hoda; Rouini, Mohammadreza

2017-06-28

Nowadays MDMA (3,4-methylendioxymethamphetamine), known as ecstasy, is widely abused among the youth because of euphoria induction in acute exposure. However, abusers are predisposed to depression in chronic consumption of this illicit compound. Mirtazapine (MRZ), an antidepressant agent, may be prescribed in MDMA-induced depression. MRZ is extensively metabolized in liver by CYP450 isoenzymes. 8-hydroxymirtazapine (8-OH) is mainly produced by CYP2D6. N-desmethylmirtazapine (NDES) is generated by CYP3A4. MDMA is also metabolized by the mentioned isoenzymes and demonstrates mechanism-based inhibition (MBI) in association with CYP2D6. Several studies revealed that MDMA showed inhibitory effects on CYP3A4. In the present study, our aim was to evaluate the impact of MDMA on the metabolism of MRZ in liver. Therefore, isolated perfused rat liver model was applied as our model of choice in this assessment. The subjects of the study were categorized into two experimental groups. Rats in the control group received MRZ-containing Krebs-Henselit buffer (1 μg/ml). Rats in the treatment group received aqueous solution of 1 mg/ml MDMA (3 mg/kg) intraperitoneally 1 hour before receiving MRZ. Perfusate samples were analyzed by HPLC. Analyses of perfusate samples showed 80% increase in the parent drug concentrations and 50% decrease in the concentrations of both metabolites in our treatment group compared to the control group. In the treatment group compared to the control group, AUC (0-120) of the parent drug demonstrated 50% increase and AUC (0-120) of 8-OH and NDES showed 70% and 60% decrease, respectively. Observed decrease in metabolic ratios were 83% and 79% for 8-OH and NDES in treatment group compared to control group, respectively. Hepatic clearance (CL h ) and intrinsic clearance (Cl int ) showed 20% and 60% decrease in treatment group compared to control group. All findings prove the inhibitory effects of ecstasy on both CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 hepatic isoenzymes. In conclusion, this study is the first investigation of MRZ metabolism in presence of MDMA in isolated perfused rat liver model.

Effects of low-level gamma irradiation on the characteristics of fermented pork sausage during storage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, I. S.; Jo, C.; Lee, K. H.; Lee, E. J.; Ahn, D. U.; Kang, S. N.

2012-04-01

The effect of gamma irradiation (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kGy) on the quality of vacuum-packaged dry fermented sausages during refrigerated storage was evaluated. At Day 0 of irradiation, the pH, redness (CIE a*), yellowness (CIE b*), 2-thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) values of samples irradiated at 2 and 4 kGy were higher (p<0.05), but the CIE L* values (lightness) were lower than those of the non-irradiated control (p<0.05). At<1 kGy irradiation, however, the pH, CIE L*, CIE a* and CIE b*-value of samples were not significantly influenced by irradiation. The CIE a*, and CIE b*-values of samples irradiated at 2 and 4 kGy decreased with the increase of storage time. The VBN, TBARS, and CIE L*-values of samples irradiated at 4 kGy were not changed significantly during refrigerated storage for 90 days (p>0.05). The total plate counts (TPC) and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in the samples irradiated at 4 kGy were significantly lower (p<0.01) than those with lower irradiation doses. At the end of storage, the TPC, coliform, and LAB in the samples were not increased after irradiation at 1, 0.5 and 1 kGy, respectively. TPC and LAB were not detected in samples irradiated at 4 kGy at Day 90. In addition, no coliform bacteria were found in samples irradiated at 1 kGy during refrigerated storage. Sensory evaluation indicated that the rancid flavor of samples irradiated at 4 kGy was significantly higher, but aroma and taste scores were lower than those of the control at Day 3 of storage. Irradiation of dry fermented sausages at 2 kGy was the best conditions to prolong the shelf-life and decrease the rancid flavor without significant quality deterioration.

The Mediterranean Diet decreases LDL atherogenicity in high cardiovascular risk individuals: a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Hernáez, Álvaro; Castañer, Olga; Goday, Alberto; Ros, Emilio; Pintó, Xavier; Estruch, Ramón; Salas-Salvadó, Jordi; Corella, Dolores; Arós, Fernando; Serra-Majem, Lluis; Martínez-González, Miguel Ángel; Fiol, Miquel; Lapetra, José; de la Torre, Rafael; López-Sabater, M Carmen; Fitó, Montserrat

2017-09-01

Traditional Mediterranean diet (TMD) protects against cardiovascular disease through several mechanisms such as decreasing LDL cholesterol levels. However, evidence regarding TMD effects on LDL atherogenic traits (resistance against oxidation, size, composition, cytotoxicity) is scarce. We assessed the effects of a 1-year intervention with a TMD on LDL atherogenic traits in a random sub-sample of individuals from the PREDIMED study (N = 210). We compared two TMDs: one enriched with virgin olive oil (TMD-VOO, N = 71) and another with nuts (TMD-Nuts, N = 68), versus a low-fat control diet (N = 71). After the TMD-VOO intervention, LDL resistance against oxidation increased (+6.46%, p = 0.007), the degree of LDL oxidative modifications decreased (-36.3%, p<0.05), estimated LDL particle size augmented (+3.06%, p = 0.021), and LDL particles became cholesterol-rich (+2.41% p = 0.013) relative to the low-fat control diet. LDL lipoproteins became less cytotoxic for macrophages only relative to baseline (-13.4%, p = 0.019). No significant effects of the TMD-Nuts intervention on LDL traits were observed versus the control diet. Adherence to a TMD, particularly when enriched with virgin olive oil, decreased LDL atherogenicity in high cardiovascular risk individuals. The development of less atherogenic LDLs could contribute to explaining some of the cardioprotective benefits of this dietary pattern. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Using (137)Cs to quantify the redistribution of soil organic carbon and total N affected by intensive soil erosion in the headwaters of the Yangtze River, China.

PubMed

Guoxiao, Wei; Yibo, Wang; Yan Lin, Wang

2008-12-01

Characteristics of soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (total N) are important for determining the overall quality of soils. Studies on spatial and temporal variation in SOC and total N are of great importance because of global environmental concerns. Soil erosion is one of the major processes affecting the redistribution of SOC and total N in the test fields. To characterize the distribution and dynamics of SOC and N in the intensively eroded soil of the headwaters of the Yangtze River, China, we measured profiles of soil organic C, total N stocks, and (137)Cs in a control plot and a treatment plot. The amounts of SOC, (137)Cs of sampling soil profiles increased in the following order, lower>middle>upper portions on the control plot, and the amounts of total N of sampling soil profile increase in the following order: upper>middle>lower on the control plot. Intensive soil erosion resulted in a significant decrease of SOC amounts by 34.9%, 28.3% and 52.6% for 0-30cm soil layer at upper, middle and lower portions and (137)Cs inventory decreased by 68%, 11% and 85% at upper, middle and lower portions, respectively. On the treatment plot total N decreased by 50.2% and 14.6% at the upper and middle portions and increased by 48.9% at the lower portion. Coefficients of variation (CVs) of SOC decreased by 31%, 37% and 30% in the upper, middle and lower slope portions, respectively. Similar to the variational trend of SOC, CVs of (137)Cs decreased by 19.2%, 0.5% and 36.5%; and total N decreased by 45.7%, 65.1% and 19% in the upper, middle and lower slope portions, respectively. The results showed that (137)Cs, SOC and total N moved on the sloping land almost in the same physical mechanism during the soil erosion procedure, indicating that fallout of (137)Cs could be used directly for quantifying dynamic SOC and total N redistribution as the soil was affected by intensive soil erosion.

Thought stopping and supportive therapy can reduce postpartum blues and anxiety parents of premature babies.

PubMed

Laela, Sri; Anna Keliat, Budi; Mustikasari

2018-02-01

The parents of premature baby tend to be at risk undergoing postpartum blues and anxiety. It is due to many problems faced by postpartum mother of premature baby. This research is aim to identifying influence of thought stopping and supportive therapy of postpartum blues and anxiety parents of premature babies. This is quantitative with quasi-experiment with control group pretest-posttest design and consecutive sampling method. Sample in this research are 62 postpartum mothers of premature babies in perinatal NICU (neonatal intensive care unit). The results show that there is significant decrease of postpartum blues and anxiety (p value = 0.000) in the group that was treated by using nursing intervention, thought stopping and supportive therapy and greater significant decrease than the group that was only treated by nursing intervention. Thought stopping and supportive therapy are able to decrease postpartum blues and anxiety parents of premature babies. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Calpain5 expression is decreased in endometriosis and regulated by HOXA10 in human endometrial cells

PubMed Central

Penna, Ivan; Du, Hongling; Ferriani, Rui; Taylor, Hugh S.

2008-01-01

Calpains have been implicated in the regulation of apoptosis. Here, we identified Calpain5 as a target of HOXA10 transcriptional regulation in endometrial cells as well as its aberrant regulation in endometriosis. Histologically confirmed biopsies of endometriosis were obtained from 20 women. Eutopic endometrium was collected by endometrial biopsy from 30 controls and from the 20 subjects with endometriosis. First trimester decidual samples were obtained from five subjects at the time of pregnancy termination. Immunohistochemistry was used to identify Calpain5 expression. Calpain5 was expressed in endometrial stromal and glandular cells throughout the menstrual cycle and in decidua. Calpain5 protein expression was decreased in both stromal and glandular cells from women with endometriosis compared with that of fertile controls. Human endometrial stromal and epithelial cell lines were transfected with pcDNA/HOXA10, HOXA10 siRNA or respective controls. Quantitative real-time RT–PCR was performed to determine expression of HOXA10 and Calpain5 in each group. Transfection of HESC cells with an HOXA10 expression construct led to increased Calpain5 expression, whereas transfection with siRNA resulted in decreased expression. In conclusion, Calpain5 expression is regulated by HOXA10. Calpain5 expression was decreased in endometriosis likely as a result of decreased HOXA10 expression. Decreased apoptosis in endometrial cells may promote the development of endometriosis through a pathway involving HOXA10, Calpain5 and caspase. PMID:18829447

Effect of bioceramic functional groups on drug binding and release kinetics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trujillo, Christopher

Bioceramics have been studied extensively as drug delivery systems (DDS). Those studies have aimed to tailor the drug binding and release kinetics to successfully treat infections and other diseases. This research suggests that the drug binding and release kinetics are predominantly driven by the functional groups available on the surface of a bioceramic. The goal of the present study is to explain the role of silicate and phosphate functional groups in drug binding to and release kinetics from bioceramics. alpha-cristobalite (Cris; SiO2) particles (90-150 microm) were prepared and doped with 0 microg (P-0), 39.1 microg (P-39.1), 78.2 microg (P-78.2), 165.5 microg (P-165.5) or 331 microg (P-331) of P 2O5 per gram Cris, using 85% orthophosphoric (H3PO 4) acid and thermal treatment. The material structure was analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) with Rietveld Refinement and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy with Gaussian fitting. XRD demonstrated an increase from sample P-0 (170.5373 A3) to P-331 (170.6466 A 3) in the unit cell volume as the P2O5 concentration increased in the material confirming phosphate silicate substitution in Cris. Moreover, FTIR showed the characteristic bands of phosphate functional groups of nu4 PO4/O-P-O bending, P-O-P stretching, P-O-P bending, P=O stretching, and P-O-H bending in doped Cris indicating phosphate incorporation in the silicate structure. Furthermore, FTIR showed that the nu4 PO4/O-P-O bending band around 557.6 cm-1 and P=O stretching band around 1343.9 cm-1 increased in area for samples P-39.1 to P-331 from 3.5 to 10.5 and from 10.1 to 22.4, respectively due to phosphate doping. In conjunction with the increase of the nu4 PO4/O-P-O bending band and P=O stretching band, a decrease in area of the O-Si-O bending bands around 488.1 and 629.8 cm-1 was noticed for samples P-39.1 to P-331 from 5 to 2 and from 11.8 to 5.4, respectively. Furthermore, Cris samples (200 mg, n=5 for each sample) were immersed separately in DI water for 2 days and the concentrations of dissolved silicate and phosphate ions released from the surface of Cris were measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma -- Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). The phosphate ions released from the material activated the surface and exposed the silicate functional groups as indicated by the FTIR analysis. Pre-immersed Cris particles and control non-immersed samples (200 mg, n=5 for each sample) of particle size 90-150 mum were immersed in 2 mL of vancomycin (Vanc) solution (8 mg/ml) in PBS on an orbital shaker at 37°C for 24 hours. The amount of drug bound to the material was measured by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Control non-immersed Cris samples P-0 and P-39.1 adsorbed a comparable amount of drug. While there was a statistically significant lower amount of drug adsorbed onto P-78.2 than that adsorbed onto P-39.1 (p < 0.001), comparable amounts of drug were adsorbed onto P-78.2, P-165.5, and P-331. Releasing phosphate ions from the material surface resulted in a significant increase in drug adsorption for pre-immersed samples. Higher Vanc adsorption was noticed for all pre-immersed Cris samples compared to their corresponding control non-immersed samples. Moreover, for pre-immersed samples the amount of drug adsorbed significantly increased from P-0 to P-78.2 (P-0 < P-39.1 < P-78.2; p < 0.05). However, at phosphate content higher than 78.2 microg per gram of Cris there was a significant decrease in drug adsorption (P-78.2 > P-165.5 > P-331; p < 0.001). ICP-OES analyses showed that the percent of released phosphate ions during immersion decreased as the phosphate content in doped Cris increased (P-39.1 released 92+/-.08% and P-331 released 71+/-.05%). Therefore, the decrease in drug binding could be attributed to the presence of high phosphate content on the material surface. Comparison between the HPLC and FTIR analyses showed that ceramics that had higher content of O-Si-O bending (at ~498 cm-1 and ~620 cm-1) bands facilitated Vanc adsorption. On the other hand surfaces with a higher content of nu 4 PO4/O-P-O bending (at ~557 cm-1) and P=O stretching (at ~1343.9 cm-1) bands did not enhance Vanc adsorption. Drug loaded pre-immersed and control non-immersed Cris samples (each 200 mg, n=5 for each sample) were immersed in 2 mL of PBS on an orbital shaker at 37°C, and a 0.5 mL aliquot was removed from the solution and replenished at 1, 3, 6, 8, 24, and 48 hour, and every 48 hour intervals to 22 days thereafter. Drug concentration released from Cris samples after each time point was measured using HPLC. The drug release kinetics demonstrated a statistically significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the cumulative and percent of Vanc released from control non-immersed Cris samples P-0 (1.521 +/- .026 mg; 37.66 +/- .89 %) to P-331 (1.276 +/- .016 mg; 33.46 +/- .77 %) of Vanc, respectively. Additionally, release kinetics also demonstrated statistically significant increase (p < 0.05) in the cumulative and percent of Vanc released from pre-immersed samples P-0 (1.505 +/- .014 mg; 33.59 +/- 1.35 %) to P-331 (1.581 +/- .057 mg; 42.27 +/- 1.51 %) of Vanc, respectively. Furthermore, in the first 4 hours, the deceleration of drug release from sample P-0 to P-331 decreased from -66.92 to -34.07 microg of Vanc/mL /hr 2, for control non immersed Cris and from -72.60 to -46.04 microg of Vanc/mL/hr2, for pre-immersed samples. Furthermore, during the first 4 hours of burst release the percentage of drug released from the total amount of drug loaded for non-immersed samples P-0 was 41 % and for P-331was 26 %. After the 4 hours of Vanc release the amount of Vanc available for release for samples P-0 and P-331 was .898 mg and .945 mg, respectively. The same relationship was found for pre-immersed samples during the first 4 hours of burst release the percentage of drug released from the total amount of drug loaded for samples P-0 was 42 % and for P-331 was 30 %. After the 4 hours of Vanc release the amount of Vanc available for release for samples P-0 and P-331 was .873 mg and 1.106 mg, respectively. These results indicated the effect of phosphate content on decreasing the drug release rate. The drug release kinetics study showed that the release of phosphate ions from the surface of Cris prior to drug loading exposed active silicate functional groups that enhanced drug binding by physisorption which in turn facilitated rapid release kinetics. On the other hand, a slower drug release rate was observed as the phosphate functional groups increased on the material surface due to chemisorption. Results from the present study indicate that it is possible to enhance the burst release stage of a bioceramic drug carrier by increasing the silicate functional groups. The sustained release profile can be engineered by controlling the phosphate content of the bioceramic drug carrier.

2-Methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC)-polymer suppresses an increase of oral bacteria: a single-blind, crossover clinical trial.

PubMed

Fujiwara, Natsumi; Yumoto, Hiromichi; Miyamoto, Koji; Hirota, Katsuhiko; Nakae, Hiromi; Tanaka, Saya; Murakami, Keiji; Kudo, Yasusei; Ozaki, Kazumi; Miyake, Yoichiro

2018-05-16

The biocompatible 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC)-polymers, which mimic a biomembrane, reduce protein adsorption and bacterial adhesion and inhibit cell attachment. The aim of this study is to clarify whether MPC-polymer can suppress the bacterial adherence in oral cavity by a crossover design. We also investigated the number of Fusobacterium nucleatum, which is the key bacterium forming dental plaque, in clinical samples. This study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, single-blind, crossover study, with two treatment periods separated by a 2-week washout period. We conducted clinical trial with 20 healthy subjects to evaluate the effect of 5% MPC-polymer mouthwash after 5 h on oral microflora. PBS was used as a control. The bacterial number in the gargling sample before and after intervention was counted by an electronic bacterial counter and a culture method. DNA amounts of total bacteria and F. nucleatum were examined by q-PCR. The numbers of total bacteria and oral streptcocci after 5 h of 5% MPC-polymer treatment significantly decreased, compared to the control group. Moreover, the DNA amounts of total bacteria and F. nucleatum significantly decreased by 5% MPC-polymer mouthwash. We suggest that MPC-polymer coating in the oral cavity may suppress the oral bacterial adherence. MPC-polymer can be a potent compound for the control of oral microflora to prevent oral infection.

The Impact of Vocal Hyperfunction on Relative Fundamental Frequency during Voicing Offset and Onset

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stepp, Cara E.; Hillman, Robert E.; Heaton, James T.

2010-01-01

Purpose: This study tested the hypothesis that individuals with vocal hyperfunction would show decreases in relative fundamental frequency (RFF) surrounding a voiceless consonant. Method: This retrospective study of 2 clinical databases used speech samples from 15 control participants and women with hyperfunction-related voice disorders: 82 prior…

School-Related Stress Experience as a Risk Factor for Bullying Behavior.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Natvig, Gerd Karin; Albrektsen, Grethe; Qvarnstrom, Ulla

2001-01-01

Studied associations between bullying behavior and school-related stress experience, self-efficacy, social support, and decision control in a sample of 885 Norwegian adolescents aged 13-15 years. Increasing school alienation was associated with an increased risk of bullying, while increasing support from teachers and peers decreased the risk.…

A Strategy to Use Soft Data Effectively in Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kraemer, Helena Chmura; Thiemann, Sue

1989-01-01

Sees soft data, measures having substantial intrasubject variability due to errors of measurement or response inconsistency, as important measures of response in randomized clinical trials. Shows that using intensive design and slope of response on time as outcome measure maximizes sample retention and decreases within-group variability, thus…

The effect of protein oxidation on hydration and water-binding in pork packaged in an oxygen-enriched atmosphere.

PubMed

Delles, Rebecca M; Xiong, Youling L

2014-06-01

This study investigated the in situ oxidative process of myofibrillar proteins in boneless pork loin chops (Longissimus lumborum) packaged in an oxygen-enriched atmosphere (HiOx: 80% O2/20% CO2), an air-permeable polyvinylchloride (PVC) overwrap, or a partial vacuum (VP) throughout display at 2°C for up to 14, 7, and 21days, respectively. Samples stored in HiOx were susceptible to lipid (TBARS) and protein (carbonyls, sulfhydryls, and aggregation) oxidation, while samples in PVC and VP showed lesser oxidative changes. Water-holding capacity of raw muscle decreased (P<0.05) when stored in HiOx but not in PVC and VP. Upon salt and phosphate brine marination, HiOx and PVC muscle samples had improved hydration capacity during display compared with non-stored control, but display generally decreased hydration of VP samples. The result was in agreement with myofibril structural changes. Despite the enhanced hydration, HiOx muscle was least capable of withholding moisture upon cooking. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of Ultra-Fast Cooling After Hot Rolling and Intercritical Treatment on Microstructure and Cryogenic Toughness of 3.5%Ni Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Meng; Liu, Zhenyu

2017-07-01

A novel process comprised of ultra-fast cooling after control rolling, intercritical quenching and tempering (UFC-LT) was applied to 3.5%Ni steel. In addition, quenching and tempering (QT) treatment was conducted in comparison. The present study focuses on the relationship between the microstructure and cryogenic toughness of 3.5%Ni steel. Results show that the microstructure of steel treated by UFC-LT consisted of tempered martensite, intercritical ferrite and two types of reversed austenite (RA) (needle shape and blocky). Compared to the QT sample, the UFC-LT sample's ultimate tensile strength decreased slightly, while its elongation increased from 32.3 to 35.7%, and its Charpy absorption energy at -135 °C increased from 112 to 237 J. The ductile-brittle transition temperature of UFC-LT sample was lower than that of the QT sample by 18 °C. The superior cryogenic toughness after UFC-LT compared to QT treatment can be attributed to the dissolution of cementite, approximately 3.0% increase in RA and the decrease in effective grain size.

Effect of quercetin and genistein on copper- and iron-induced lipid peroxidation in methyl linolenate.

PubMed

Boadi, William Y; Iyere, Peter A; Adunyah, Samuel E

2003-01-01

The single and combined effects of two abundant flavonoids, namely quercetin and genistein, were investigated according to their ability to inhibit the oxidation of methyl linolenate via Fenton's pathway. Antioxidative activity was determined by oxidizing methyl linolenate suspended in a buffer solution with either Fe2+ (50 microM) or Cu2+ (50 microM) and hydrogen peroxide (0.01 mM) without or with a flavonoid sample (10 or 20 microM). Lipid peroxidation products were measured by the thiobarbituric acid (TBA) assay and the amounts of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) were calculated from a calibration curve using 1,1,3,3-tetraethoxypropane as the standard. Both quercetin and genistein at the 10 or 20 microM level decreased lipid peroxidation significantly compared with their respective controls. Of the two flavonoids tested, quercetin had a more marked effect on inhibiting lipid peroxides. Peroxidation products for the control samples were higher for the Fe2+-treated samples compared with the Cu2+ samples. Combination of both flavonoids at the same dose levels continued to decrease lipid peroxidation, the effect being the same for both metal ions. The data suggest that the combined flavonoids offered better protection than the single treatments and this may be attributed to the better radical scavenging or increased chelating capabilities of the combined over the single treatments. The differences in peroxide levels for the single treatment of quercetin compared with the genistein-treated samples may reflect the structural differences between these compounds in combating oxidative stress. Copyright 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Rapid control of mold temperature during injection molding process

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liparoti, Sara; Titomanlio, Giuseppe; Hunag, Tsang Min

2015-05-22

The control of mold surface temperature is an important factor that determines surface morphology and its dimension in thickness direction. It can also affect the frozen molecular orientation and the mold surface replicability in injection molded products. In this work, thin thermally active films were used to quickly control the mold surface temperature. In particular, an active high electrical conductivity carbon black loaded polyimide composites sandwiched between two insulating thin polymeric layers was used to condition the mold surface. By controlling the heating time, it was possible to control precisely the temporal variation of the mold temperature surface during themore » entire cycle. The surface heating rate was about 40°C/s and upon contact with the polymer the surface temperature decreased back to 40°C within about 5 s; the overall cycle time increased only slightly. The effect on cross section sample morphology of samples of iPP were analyzed and discussed on the basis of the recorded temperature evolution.« less

Rigor mortis development in turkey breast muscle and the effect of electrical stunning.

PubMed

Alvarado, C Z; Sams, A R

2000-11-01

Rigor mortis development in turkey breast muscle and the effect of electrical stunning on this process are not well characterized. Some electrical stunning procedures have been known to inhibit postmortem (PM) biochemical reactions, thereby delaying the onset of rigor mortis in broilers. Therefore, this study was designed to characterize rigor mortis development in stunned and unstunned turkeys. A total of 154 turkey toms in two trials were conventionally processed at 20 to 22 wk of age. Turkeys were either stunned with a pulsed direct current (500 Hz, 50% duty cycle) at 35 mA (40 V) in a saline bath for 12 seconds or left unstunned as controls. At 15 min and 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h PM, pectoralis samples were collected to determine pH, R-value, L* value, sarcomere length, and shear value. In Trial 1, the samples obtained for pH, R-value, and sarcomere length were divided into surface and interior samples. There were no significant differences between the surface and interior samples among any parameters measured. Muscle pH significantly decreased over time in stunned and unstunned birds through 2 h PM. The R-values increased to 8 h PM in unstunned birds and 24 h PM in stunned birds. The L* values increased over time, with no significant differences after 1 h PM for the controls and 2 h PM for the stunned birds. Sarcomere length increased through 2 h PM in the controls and 12 h PM in the stunned fillets. Cooked meat shear values decreased through the 1 h PM deboning time in the control fillets and 2 h PM in the stunned fillets. These results suggest that stunning delayed the development of rigor mortis through 2 h PM, but had no significant effect on the measured parameters at later time points, and that deboning turkey breasts at 2 h PM or later will not significantly impair meat tenderness.

Articulatory-acoustic vowel space: application to clear speech in individuals with Parkinson's disease.

PubMed

Whitfield, Jason A; Goberman, Alexander M

2014-01-01

Individuals with Parkinson disease (PD) often exhibit decreased range of movement secondary to the disease process, which has been shown to affect articulatory movements. A number of investigations have failed to find statistically significant differences between control and disordered groups, and between speaking conditions, using traditional vowel space area measures. The purpose of the current investigation was to evaluate both between-group (PD versus control) and within-group (habitual versus clear) differences in articulatory function using a novel vowel space measure, the articulatory-acoustic vowel space (AAVS). The novel AAVS is calculated from continuously sampled formant trajectories of connected speech. In the current study, habitual and clear speech samples from twelve individuals with PD along with habitual control speech samples from ten neurologically healthy adults were collected and acoustically analyzed. In addition, a group of listeners completed perceptual rating of speech clarity for all samples. Individuals with PD were perceived to exhibit decreased speech clarity compared to controls. Similarly, the novel AAVS measure was significantly lower in individuals with PD. In addition, the AAVS measure significantly tracked changes between the habitual and clear conditions that were confirmed by perceptual ratings. In the current study, the novel AAVS measure is shown to be sensitive to disease-related group differences and within-person changes in articulatory function of individuals with PD. Additionally, these data confirm that individuals with PD can modulate the speech motor system to increase articulatory range of motion and speech clarity when given a simple prompt. The reader will be able to (i) describe articulatory behavior observed in the speech of individuals with Parkinson disease; (ii) describe traditional measures of vowel space area and how they relate to articulation; (iii) describe a novel measure of vowel space, the articulatory-acoustic vowel space and its relationship to articulation and the perception of speech clarity. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effect of storage time on gene expression data acquired from unfrozen archived newborn blood spots.

PubMed

Ho, Nhan T; Busik, Julia V; Resau, James H; Paneth, Nigel; Khoo, Sok Kean

2016-11-01

Unfrozen archived newborn blood spots (NBS) have been shown to retain sufficient messenger RNA (mRNA) for gene expression profiling. However, the effect of storage time at ambient temperature for NBS samples in relation to the quality of gene expression data is relatively unknown. Here, we evaluated mRNA expression from quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and microarray data obtained from NBS samples stored at ambient temperature to determine the effect of storage time on the quality of gene expression. These data were generated in a previous case-control study examining NBS in 53 children with cerebral palsy (CP) and 53 matched controls. NBS sample storage period ranged from 3 to 16years at ambient temperature. We found persistently low RNA integrity numbers (RIN=2.3±0.71) and 28S/18S rRNA ratios (~0) across NBS samples for all storage periods. In both qRT-PCR and microarray data, the expression of three common housekeeping genes-beta cytoskeletal actin (ACTB), glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and peptidylprolyl isomerase A (PPIA)-decreased with increased storage time. Median values of each microarray probe intensity at log 2 scale also decreased over time. After eight years of storage, probe intensity values were largely reduced to background intensity levels. Of 21,500 genes tested, 89% significantly decreased in signal intensity, with 13,551, 10,730, and 9925 genes detected within 5years, > 5 to <10years, and >10years of storage, respectively. We also examined the expression of two gender-specific genes (X inactivation-specific transcript, XIST and lysine-specific demethylase 5D, KDM5D) and seven gene sets representing the inflammatory, hypoxic, coagulative, and thyroidal pathways hypothesized to be related to CP risk to determine the effect of storage time on the detection of these biologically relevant genes. We found the gender-specific genes and CP-related gene sets detectable in all storage periods, but exhibited differential expression (between male vs. female or CP vs. control) only within the first six years of storage. We concluded that gene expression data quality deteriorates in unfrozen archived NBS over time and that differential gene expression profiling and analysis is recommended for those NBS samples collected and stored within six years at ambient temperature. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Microbial changes in patients with acute periodontal abscess after treatment detected by PadoTest.

PubMed

Eguchi, T; Koshy, G; Umeda, M; Iwanami, T; Suga, J; Nomura, Y; Kawanami, M; Ishikawa, I

2008-03-01

To investigate changes in bacterial counts in subgingival plaque from patients with acute periodontal abscess by IAI-PadoTest. Ninety-one patients were randomly allocated to either test or control groups. In all the patients, pockets with acute periodontal abscess were irrigated with sterilized physiological saline, and in the test group, 2% minocycline hydrochloride ointment was applied once into the pocket in addition. Subgingival plaque samples were collected by paper point before treatment and 7 days after treatment. The total bacterial count was determined and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia, were detected using IAI-PadoTest, a DNA/RNA probe method. The total bacterial count decreased in both groups, with a significant decrease in the test group. The counts and number of sites positive for P. gingivalis, T. forsythia and T. denticola significantly decreased in the test group after treatment, compared with those in the control group. Pocket depth decreased in the both groups, with a statistically significant decrease in the test group. Topical treatment with minocycline in pockets with acute periodontal abscess was effective in reducing the bacterial counts as shown by the microbiological investigation using PadoTest 4.5.

Parity, infertility, oral contraceptives, and hormone replacement therapy and the risk of ovarian serous borderline tumors: A nationwide case-control study.

PubMed

Rasmussen, Emma L Kaderly; Hannibal, Charlotte Gerd; Dehlendorff, Christian; Baandrup, Louise; Junge, Jette; Vang, Russell; Kurman, Robert J; Kjaer, Susanne K

2017-03-01

Few studies have examined the risk of an ovarian serous borderline tumor (SBT) associated with parity, infertility, oral contraceptives (OCs), or hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which was the study aim. This nationwide case-control study included all women with an SBT diagnosis in Denmark, 1978-2002. SBTs were confirmed by centralized expert pathology review. For each case, 15 age-matched female controls were randomly selected using risk-set sampling. Cases and controls with previous cancer (except for non-melanoma skin cancer) and controls with bilateral oophorectomy or salpingo-oophorectomy were excluded. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We found a strongly decreased risk of SBTs among parous women which decreased with increasing number of children (p<0.01). Older age at first birth also decreased the SBT risk (p=0.03). An increased SBT risk was associated with infertility (OR=3.31; 95% CI: 2.44-4.49), which was present both among parous and nulliparous women. HRT use increased the SBT risk (OR=1.32; 95% CI: 1.02-1.72), whereas OC use decreased the risk (OR=0.40; 95% CI: 0.26-0.62). Our nationwide study with expert histopathologic review of all SBTs showed that parity, infertility, use of HRT, and use of OCs, respectively, were strongly associated with the risk of SBTs. This is the first study to report a strong and significantly decreased SBT risk associated with OC use and a significantly increased risk with infertility, and HRT use. This supports that SBTs and serous ovarian cancer share similar risk factors. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

INFLUENCE OF INTRAMUSCULAR FAT LEVEL ON ORGANOLEPTIC, PHYSICAL, AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF IRRADIATED PORK. II. LOW-TEMPERATURE LONG-TIME PRE-IRRADIATION HEAT TREATMENT

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bray, R.W.; Weckel, K.G.; Evans, G.W.

1964-02-01

Pork muscle (longissimus dorsi) was graded in three marbling levels by both visual appraisal and ether-extraction analysis of total fat. A low- temperature (121 deg F, gradually increasing to 191 deg F), long-time (19-hr) heat treatment was used for enzyme inactivation. Samples were packed under vacuum in rigid containers and irradiated to 4.5 Mrad with gamma radiation. Irradiated and frozen control samples were evaluated at intervals over a 180-day period. The heat treatment caused excessive connective-tissue breakdown as evidenced by a soft, dry texture. Marbling level had no significant effect on consumer-panel judgments of irradiated or frozen control samples (servedmore » plain, without bread). Lower degrees of marbling were preferred in irradiated sandwich items. Irradiated samples were less preferred than frozen control samples in both plain and sandwich form. Hunter L (color) values a/sub L/ (redness), hue, and saturation attributes were increased by irradiation treatment. Hunter L and b/sub L/ (yellowness) values of highly marbled irradiated sample-s were elevated. Highly marbled samples displayed greater tenderness qualities, as evidenced by mechanical tenderness measurements. Expressible moisture values were decreased by marbling degree and radiation treatment and increased by advancing storage time. As a measure of oxidation rancidity, thiobarbituric acid values were increased by increasing levels of marbling and advancing storage time, but were not influenced by preservation method. No significant differences in pH values due to marbling level or preservation method were detected. Bacteriologic counts of randomly selected irradiated samples indicated that they were commercially sterile (average of 57 colonies/g of sample). Methylene blue stains of colonles revealed Micrococcus. Frozen (control) samples contained moderate numbers of colonies (av. 2300 colonies per g of sample). Micrococcus colonies were again predominant, but a few colonles of film yeasts were also seen. Irradiated samples were negative for thermophilic anaerobic spores producing gas. Control samples were positive, containing gram-negative rods, Escherichia coli, and gram- positive cocci. (BBB)« less

The effects of foot reflexology massage on anxiety in patients following coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Bagheri-Nesami, Masoumeh; Shorofi, Seyed Afshin; Zargar, Nahid; Sohrabi, Maryam; Gholipour-Baradari, Afshin; Khalilian, Alireza

2014-02-01

To examine the effects of foot reflexology massage on anxiety in patients following CABG surgery. In this randomized controlled trial, 80 patients who met the inclusion criteria were conveniently sampled and randomly allocated to the experimental and control groups after they were matched on age and gender. On the days following surgery, the experimental group received foot reflexology massage on their left foot 20 min a day for 4 days, while the control group was given a gentle foot rub with oil for one minute. Anxiety was measured using the short-form of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Visual Analogue Scale-Anxiety. Both measurement instruments confirmed a significant decrease in anxiety following the foot reflexology massage. The significant decrease in anxiety in the experimental group following the foot reflexology massage supports the use of this complementary therapy technique for the relief of anxiety. Crown Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of oxidative status in patients with brucellosis.

PubMed

Serefhanoglu, Kivanc; Taskin, Abdullah; Turan, Hale; Timurkaynak, Funda Ergin; Arslan, Hande; Erel, Ozcan

2009-08-01

Oxidative stress can be defined as an increase in oxidants and/or a decrease in antioxidant capacity. We aimed to determine total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total peroxide, malondialdehyde and catalase levels in plasma samples, and calculation of oxidative stress index (OSI) in patients with brucellosis to evaluate their oxidative status using a novel automated method. Sixty-nine patients with brucellosis and 69 healthy control subjects were included in the present study. Plasma levels of total peroxide and malondialdehyde were significantly increased in patients as compared with healthy controls (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). In contrast, TAC level was significantly lower in patients as compared with controls (p<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the catalase results of the two groups (p>0.05). OSI level was significantly increased in patients as compared with healthy controls (p<0.001). In conclusion, oxidants were increased and antioxidants were decreased in patients with brucellosis. Oxidative stress was increased in patients with brucellosis.

Oxidative stress in juvenile chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Welker, T.L.; Congleton, J.L.

2004-01-01

Juvenile chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum), were held in 8-11??C freshwater, starved for 3 days and subjected to a low-water stressor to determine the relationship between the general stress response and oxidative stress. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels (lipid hydroperoxides) were measured in kidney, liver and brain samples taken at the beginning of the experiment (0-h unstressed controls) and at 6, 24 and 48 h after application of a continuous low-water stressor. Tissue samples were also taken at 48 h from fish that had not been exposed to the stressor (48-h unstressed controls). Exposure to the low-water stressor affected LPO in kidney and brain tissues. In kidney, LPO decreased 6 h after imposition of the stressor; similar but less pronounced decreases also occurred in the liver and brain. At 48 h, LPO increased (in comparison with 6-h stressed tissues) in the kidney and brain. In comparison with 48-h unstressed controls, LPO levels were higher in the kidney and brain of stressed fish. Although preliminary, results suggest that stress can cause oxidative tissue damage in juvenile chinook salmon. Measures of oxidative stress have shown similar responses to stress in mammals; however, further research is needed to determine the extent of the stress-oxidative stress relationship and the underlying physiological mechanisms in fish.

Parsley! Mechanism as antiurolithiasis remedy.

PubMed

Al-Yousofy, Fayed; Gumaih, Hussein; Ibrahim, Hassan; Alasbahy, Afrah

2017-01-01

Parsley is a medicinal plant used widely in urolithiasis. The present study aimed to evaluate the antiurolithiatic effect of parsley and its mechanism. 24 rats divided into four groups: group A (negative control), group B (positive control), group C (cystone ® group) and group D (parsley group). Group B were treated with EG and Ammonium chloride (AC). Group C were treated as B plus cystone ® and group D was treated as B plus parsley. The period of experiment was 15 days. Urine samples were analysis on days 0 and 15 days. Kidneys of rats from all groups were removed, and histopathologically examined. The kidnies of parsley treated group appeared mostly to be calculi-free (less CaOx) even better than the cystone treated group. CaOx crystals was significantly lower both in histological sections and in urine samples in parsley treated group. We further investigated the mechanism of parsley by adding another 6 rats. The latter treated by parsley only after adaptation period. We found significant increase in urine volume and pH in parsley treated rats compared to negative control. We concluded that parsley acts as antiurolithiatic drug through decreasing urinary calcium excretion, increasing urinary pH, dieresis, decreasing urinary protein excretion and its nephroprtective activity. We recommended to use it in pharmaceutical forms as it is safe and effective as antiurolithiasis remedy.

Beltsville poultry semen extender. 9. Effect of storage temperature on turkey semen held eighteen hours.

PubMed

Giesen, A F; Sexton, T J

1983-07-01

Turkey semen was collected, diluted 1:1 with Beltsville Poultry Semen Extender, and held for 0 or 18 hr at 5, 15, 25, or 35 C. Changes in spermatozoa motility and sperm numbers were monitored before and after holding. All hens were artificially inseminated (AI) with 250 X 10(6) spermatozoa three times the first week and once weekly thereafter for a total of 20 weeks. No significant differences were observed in candling fertility (85 vs. 82%) of hens AI with unstored semen or semen held at 5 C for 18 hr. Significant depression of fertility levels to 41 and 40% were noted in hens AI with semen stored at 15 and 25 C, respectively. No fertile eggs were obtained from hens AI with semen held at 35 C for 18 hr. Sperm motility scores were not different between the unstored controls and samples held at 5 C (62 vs. 64%). Samples held at 15 and 25 C had motility scores of 40 and 8%, respectively. Samples held at 35 C for 18 hr were immotile. As semen holding temperature increased from 5 to 35 C, sperm numbers decreased during the 18 hr holding period by 11, 16, 28, and 45% of the unstored control. The decrease in sperm numbers during the 18-hr holding period was speculated to be the result of sperm aging which was compounded by sample agitation during storage. The methodology used for determining sperm numbers did not adversely influence the results.

Former Abusers of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids Exhibit Decreased Testosterone Levels and Hypogonadal Symptoms Years after Cessation: A Case-Control Study.

PubMed

Rasmussen, Jon Jarløv; Selmer, Christian; Østergren, Peter Busch; Pedersen, Karen Boje; Schou, Morten; Gustafsson, Finn; Faber, Jens; Juul, Anders; Kistorp, Caroline

2016-01-01

Abuse of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) is highly prevalent among male recreational athletes. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of AAS abuse on reproductive hormone levels and symptoms suggestive of hypogonadism in current and former AAS abusers. This study had a cross-sectional case-control design and involved 37 current AAS abusers, 33 former AAS abusers (mean (95%CI) elapsed duration since AAS cessation: 2.5 (1.7; 3.7) years) and 30 healthy control participants. All participants were aged 18-50 years and were involved in recreational strength training. Reproductive hormones (FSH, LH, testosterone, inhibin B and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH)) were measured using morning blood samples. Symptoms of hypogonadism (depressive symptoms, fatigue, decreased libido and erectile dysfunction) were recorded systematically. Former AAS abusers exhibited significantly lower median (25th -75th percentiles) total and free testosterone levels than control participants (total testosterone: 14.4 (11.9-17.7) nmol/l vs. 18.8 (16.6-22.0) nmol/l) (P < 0.01). Overall, 27.2% (13.3; 45.5) of former AAS abusers exhibited plasma total testosterone levels below the lower reference limit (12.1 nmol/l) whereas no control participants exhibited testosterone below this limit (P < 0.01). Gonadotropins were significantly suppressed, and inhibin B and AMH were significantly decreased in current AAS abusers compared with former AAS abusers and control participants (P < 0.01). The group of former AAS abusers had higher proportions of participants with depressive symptoms ((24.2%) (11.1; 42.2)), erectile dysfunction ((27.3%) (13.3; 45.6)) and decreased libido ((40.1%) (23.2; 57.0)) than the other two groups (trend analyses: P < 0.05). Former AAS abusers exhibited significantly lower plasma testosterone levels and higher frequencies of symptoms suggestive of hypogonadism than healthy control participants years after AAS cessation. Current AAS abusers exhibited severely decreased AMH and inhibin B indicative of impaired spermatogenesis.

Mechanical properties of a Gelidium corneum edible film containing catechin and its application in sausages.

PubMed

Ku, K-J; Hong, Y-H; Song, K B

2008-04-01

We prepared an edible Gelidium corneum (GC) film containing catechin and examined the microbial growth and quality change during storage of sausages packaged with the film. Incorporation of catechin in the film improved film tensile strength and water vapor permeability. The film's antimicrobial activity against Eschericha coli O157:H7 increased with increasing catechin concentrations and resulted in a decrease in the populations of the bacteria by 1.93 log CFU/g at 150 mg of catechin. For the sausage samples inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes, the samples packed with the GC film showed a decrease in populations of E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes by 1.81 and 1.44 log CFU/g, respectively, compared to the control after 5 d of storage. In addition, the sausage samples packed with the GC film had lower degrees of lipid oxidation. The results suggest that sausages can be packed with GC film to extend shelf life.

The timing of alcohol use and sexual initiation among a sample of Black, Hispanic, and White adolescents.

PubMed

Rothman, Emily F; Wise, Lauren A; Bernstein, Edward; Bernstein, Judith

2009-01-01

The goals of this study were to examine the relationship between age at first drink and age at first sex among an emergency department sample of Black, Hispanic, and White adolescents (N = 1,1110) and to assess two sexual behavior-related consequences of underage drinking. The authors used multivariable linear regression to analyze data from a self-reported survey. Age at first sex decreased linearly with decreasing age at first drink (p < .001) for all adolescents in the sample. In analyses stratified by race, significant positive trends between age at first drink and age at first sex were observed for all race and ethnic subgroups, although the relationship between age at first drink and age at first sex was not as strong for Black males and females as their White counterparts, respectively. Compared to White males, Black males were less likely to report having had sex without using a condom or birth control after drinking in the past month and during their lifetimes.

Effects of selection for decreased residual feed intake on composition and quality of fresh pork.

PubMed

Smith, R M; Gabler, N K; Young, J M; Cai, W; Boddicker, N J; Anderson, M J; Huff-Lonergan, E; Dekkers, J C M; Lonergan, S M

2011-01-01

The objectives of this study were to determine the extent to which selection for decreased residual feed intake (RFI) affects pork composition and quality. Pigs from the fifth generation of selection for decreased RFI (select) and a randomly selected line (control) were utilized. Two experiments were conducted. In Exp. 1, barrows (22.6 ± 3.9 kg) from select and control lines were paired based on age and BW. The test was conducted in 8 replicates of pairs for the test period of 6 wk. Calpastatin activity and myosin isoforms profile were determined on samples from the LM. Control barrows were heavier (59.1 vs. 55.0 kg; P < 0.01) at the end of the test period. Calpastatin activity was greater (P < 0.01) in LM of select barrows than control barrows. In Exp. 2, composition and quality of gilts (114 kg) from control and select lines were determined. The model included fixed effects of line, slaughter date, melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) genotype, barn group, line × slaughter date, genotype × line interactions, a covariate of off-test BW, and sire, pen, and litter fitted as random effects. The select line (n = 80) had 0.043 kg less (P < 0.05) RFI per day than the control line (n = 89). Loin quality and composition were determined at 2 d postmortem. Desmin degradation was measured at 2 and 7 d postmortem. Purge, cook loss, sensory traits, and star probe texture were measured at 7 to 10 d postmortem on cooked chops. Residual correlations between RFI and composition and quality traits were calculated. Compared with the control line, carcasses from the select line tended to have less (P = 0.09) backfat, greater (P < 0.05) loin depth, and greater (P < 0.05) fat free lean. Loin chops from the select line had less (P < 0.01) intramuscular lipid content than loin chops from control line. Significant residual correlations between RFI and both tenderness (r = 0.24, P < 0.01) and star probe (r = -0.26, P < 0.01) were identified. Selection for decreased RFI has the potential to improve carcass composition with few effects on pH and water-holding capacity. However, decreased RFI could negatively affect tenderness and texture because of decreased lipid content and decreased postmortem protein degradation.

Effects of saliva substitutes on oral status in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

PubMed

Montaldo, L; Montaldo, P; Papa, A; Caramico, N; Toro, G

2010-11-01

To assess oral status in a sample of Type 2 diabetic patients before and after therapy with saliva substitutes and oral status in a control group of diabetic patients who were not given saliva substitutes. Salivary flow rate was determined in 134 patients (mean age 47.9 ± 2.9 years) with Type 2 diabetes. Mean salivary rate was significantly low compared with a healthy control group. The sample of 134 patients was randomly divided into two groups of 67 people each. One group was given immunologically active salivary substitutes for 6 months, the other group was given nothing. Each patient of the two groups underwent a dental and periodontal examination at the beginning of the study and 6 months later. As regards carious teeth and teeth loss, there was no statistical difference between the first group after 6 months of treatment with salivary substitutes and the control group (P>0.01). Salivary substitutes did not significantly reduce the periodontal disease (P>0.01). In the group treated with salivary substitutes, after 6 months of therapy, the average dental plaque index decreased from 2.3 ± 0.73 to 1.6 ± 0.56, patients with gingivitis decreased from 66 to 43% and patients with positive yeast counts decreased from 60 to 37%. These differences were statistically significant (P<0.01). In Type 2 diabetes, in the case of hyposalivation, a therapy with immunologically active saliva substitutes can be of help in reducing the amount of plaque, gingivitis and positive yeast counts. © 2010 The Authors. Diabetic Medicine © 2010 Diabetes UK.

Effects of Pouring Temperature and Electromagnetic Stirring on Porosity and Mechanical Properties of A357 Aluminum Alloy Rheo-Diecasting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, An; Zhao, Junwen; Xu, Chao; Li, Hu; Han, Jing; Zhang, Xu

2018-05-01

Semisolid slurry of A357 aluminum alloy was prepared using a temperature-controllable electromagnetic stirrer and rheo-diecast at different temperatures. The effects of pouring temperature and electromagnetic stirring (EMS) on the porosity in rheo-diecast samples, as well as the relation between porosity and mechanical properties, were investigated. The results show that pouring temperature and EMS had minor influences on rheo-diecast microstructure but marked influence on the porosity. With decreasing slurry pouring temperature, the porosity decreased first and then increased, whereas the maximum pore ratio (ratio of shape factor to diameter of the largest pore) increased first and then decreased. The maximum pore ratio determines the level of tensile strength and elongation, and higher mechanical properties can be obtained with smaller and rounder pores in samples. The mechanical properties of the rheo-diecast samples increased linearly with increasing maximum pore ratio. The maximum pore ratio was 1.43 µm-1, and the minimum porosity level was 0.37% under EMS condition for the rheo-diecast samples obtained at a pouring temperature of 608 °C. With this porosity condition, the maximum tensile strength and elongation were achieved at 274 MPa and 4.9%, respectively. It was also revealed that EMS improves mechanical properties by reduction in porosity and an increase in maximum pore ratio.

Structural characterization and evaluation of antioxidant, anticancer and hypoglycemic activity of radiation degraded oat (Avena sativa) β- glucan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hussain, Peerzada R.; Rather, Sarver A.; Suradkar, Prashant P.

2018-03-01

Oat β-D-glucan after extraction was degraded at doses of 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 kGy. The average molecular weight decreased to 45 kDa at dose of 15 kGy from an initial value of 200 kDa in native sample. XRD analysis revealed no significant change in diffraction pattern of irradiated samples when compared with control, except a decrease in intensity of x-ray diffraction. The results of the antioxidant activity revealed decrease in EC50 values and corresponding increase in antioxidant activity of radiation degraded oat β-D-glucan. Results of the anticancer studies indicated that cytotoxicity of gamma irradiated oat β-D-glucan in cancer cell lines was highest against colo-205 and MCF7 cancer cells compared to T47D cell and no cytotoxicity was observed in normal cell lines at all concentrations used. Evaluation of hypoglycemic activity showed highest inhibition in α-glucosidase activity compared to α-amylase activity due to gamma irradiation of oat β-D-glucan. Comparison of the EC50 values of known standards and gamma irradiated oat beta-glucan samples indicates that radiation treatment significantly modified the biological activity of the beta-glucan samples. Therefore, it is suggested that gamma irradiation can be used for producing low molecular weight oat β-D-glucan; which can help in modifying the biological activities.

Trajectories of Conflict over Raising Adolescent Children and Marital Satisfaction

PubMed Central

Cui, Ming; Donnellan, M. Brent

2009-01-01

The present study examined trajectories of marital satisfaction among couples with adolescent children and evaluated how changes in parents’ conflict over raising adolescent children were associated with changes in marital satisfaction over four years. Using a prospective, longitudinal research design and controlling for family socioeconomic status, dyadic growth curve analysis from a sample of 431 couples with adolescent children indicated that marital satisfaction decreased over time for parents with adolescent children, and that the trajectories for mothers and fathers were substantially linked. More importantly, the study demonstrated that increases or decreases in parents’ marital conflict over raising adolescent children were associated with corresponding decreases or increases in marital satisfaction for both mothers and fathers. PMID:20161030

Environmental chamber measurements of mercury flux from coal utilization by-products

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pekney, Natalie J.; Martello, Donald; Schroeder, Karl

2009-05-01

An environmental chamber was constructed to measure the mercury flux from coal utilization by-product (CUB) samples. Samples of fly ash, FGD gypsum, and wallboard made from FGD gypsum were tested under both dark and illuminated conditions with or without the addition of water to the sample. Mercury releases varied widely, with 7- day experiment averages ranging from -6.8 to 73 ng/m(2) h for the fly ash samples and -5.2 to 335 ng/m(2) h for the FGD/wallboard samples. Initial mercury content, fly ash type, and light exposure had no observable consistent effects on the mercury flux. For the fly ash samples,more » the effect of a mercury control technology was to decrease the emission. For three of the four pairs of FGD gypsum and wallboard samples, the wallboard sample released less (or absorbed more) mercury than the gypsum.« less

Environmental chamber measurements of mercury flux from coal utilization by-products

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pekney, N.J.; Martello, D.V.; Schroeder, K.T.

2009-05-01

An environmental chamber was constructed to measure the mercury flux from coal utilization by-product (CUB) samples. Samples of fly ash, FGD gypsum, and wallboard made from FGD gypsum were tested under both dark and illuminated conditions with or without the addition of water to the sample. Mercury releases varied widely, with 7-day experiment averages ranging from -6.8 to 73 ng/m2 h for the fly ash samples and -5.2 to 335 ng/m2 h for the FGD/wallboard samples. Initial mercury content, fly ash type, and light exposure had no observable consistent effects on the mercury flux. For the fly ash samples, themore » effect of a mercury control technology was to decrease the emission. For three of the four pairs of FGD gypsum and wallboard samples, the wallboard sample released less (or absorbed more) mercury than the gypsum.« less

Collagen crosslinks in chondromalacia of the patella.

PubMed

Väätäinen, U; Kiviranta, I; Jaroma, H; Arokosi, J; Tammi, M; Kovanen, V

1998-02-01

The aim of the study was to determine collagen concentration and collagen crosslinks in cartilage samples from chondromalacia of the patella. To study the extracellular matrix alterations associated to chondromalacia, we determined the concentration of collagen (hydroxyproline) and its hydroxylysylpyridinoline and lysylpyridinoline crosslinks from chondromalacia foci of the patellae in 12 patients and 7 controls from apparently normal cadavers. The structure of the collagen network in 8 samples of grades II-IV chondromalacia was examined under polarized light microscopy. The full-thickness cartilage samples taken with a surgical knife from chondromalacia lesions did not show changes in collagen, hydroxylysylpyridinoline and lysylpyridinoline concentration as compared with the controls. Polarized light microscopy showed decreased birefringence in the superficial cartilage of chondromalacia lesions, indicating disorganization or disappearance of collagen fibers in this zone. It is concluded that the collagen network shows gradual disorganization with the severity of chondromalacia lesion of the patella without changes in the concentration or crosslinks of collagen.

Geochemistry of ground water in the Gallup, Dakota, and Morrison aquifers, San Juan Basin, New Mexico

USGS Publications Warehouse

Dam, W.L.

1995-01-01

Ground water was sampled from wells completed in the Gallup, Dakota, and Morrison aquifers in the San Juan Basin, New Mexico, to examine controls on solute concentrations. Samples were collected from 38 wells primarily from the Morrison aquifer (25 wells) in the northwestern part of the basin. A series of samples was collected along ground-water flow paths; dissolved constituents varied horizontally and vertically. The understanding of the flow system changed as a result of the geochemical analyses. The conceptual model of the flow system in the Morrison aquifer prior to the study reported here assumed the Westwater Canyon Member of the Morrison aquifer as the only significant regional aquifer; flow was assumed to be two dimensional; and vertical leakage was assumed to be negligible. The geochemical results indicate that the Westwater Canyon Member is not the only major water-yielding zone and that the flow system is three dimensional. The data presented in this report suggest an upward component of flow into the Morrison aquifer. The entire section above and below the Morrison aquifer appears to be controlled by a three-dimensional flow regime where saline brine leaks near the San Juan River discharge area. Predominant ions in the Gallup aquifer were calcium bicarbonate in recharge areas and sodium sulfate in discharge areas. In the Dakota aquifer, predominant ions were sodium bicarbonate and sodium sulfate. Water in the Morrison aquifer was predominantly sodium bicarbonate in the recharge area, changing to sodium sulfate downgradient. Chemical and radioisotopic data indicate that water from overlying and underlying units mixes with recharge water in the Morrison aquifer. Recharge water contained a large ratio of chlorine-36 to chlorine and a small ratio of bromide to chloride. Approximately 10 miles downgradient, samples from four wells completed in the Morrison aquifer were considerably different in composition compared to recharge samples. Oxygen stable isotopes decreased by 2.8 per mil and deuterium decreased 26 per mil, relative to recharge. Carbon-14 radioisotope activities were not detectable. Chloride-36 radioisotope ratios were small and bromide to chloride concentration ratios were large. These results suggest two potentially viable processes: ion filtration or trapping of ancient dilute water recharged under a humid climate. For water samples near the San Juan River, pH decreased to about 8.0, chloride concentrations increased to more than 100 milligrams per liter, and ratios of chlorine-36 to chlorine and bromide to chloride were small. Leakage of deep basin brine into the fresher water of the Morrison aquifer appears to control ion concentrations.

Quantifying the size-resolved dynamics of indoor bioaerosol transport and control.

PubMed

Kunkel, S A; Azimi, P; Zhao, H; Stark, B C; Stephens, B

2017-09-01

Understanding the bioaerosol dynamics of droplets and droplet nuclei emitted during respiratory activities is important for understanding how infectious diseases are transmitted and potentially controlled. To this end, we conducted experiments to quantify the size-resolved dynamics of indoor bioaerosol transport and control in an unoccupied apartment unit operating under four different HVAC particle filtration conditions. Two model organisms (Escherichia coli K12 and bacteriophage T4) were aerosolized under alternating low and high flow rates to roughly represent constant breathing and periodic coughing. Size-resolved aerosol sampling and settle plate swabbing were conducted in multiple locations. Samples were analyzed by DNA extraction and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). DNA from both organisms was detected during all test conditions in all air samples up to 7 m away from the source, but decreased in magnitude with the distance from the source. A greater fraction of T4 DNA was recovered from the aerosol size fractions smaller than 1 μm than E. coli K12 at all air sampling locations. Higher efficiency HVAC filtration also reduced the amount of DNA recovered in air samples and on settle plates located 3-7 m from the source. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Effects of glucosamine-chondroitin combination on synovial fluid IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and PGE2 levels in internal derangements of temporomandibular joint

PubMed Central

Esen, Emin; Tatli, Ufuk

2015-01-01

Background The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of glucosamine-chondroitin sulphate combination on internal derangements of temporomandibular joint in clinical and biochemical manners. Material and Methods This randomized clinical study included 31 cases reporting joint tenderness, in which disc displacement was detected on MR imaging. In all patients, synovial fluid sampling was performed under local anesthesia. In the study group, the patients were prescribed a combination of 1500 mg glucosamine and 1200 mg chondroitin sulphate, while patients in the control group were only prescribed 50 mg tramadol HCl (twice daily) for pain control. After 8 weeks, synovial fluid sampling was repeated in the same manner. The levels of pain, maximum mouth opening (MMO), synovial fluid IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α and PGE2 measured before and after pharmacological intervention were compared. Results The reduction in pain levels was significant in both groups. There was no significant difference between two groups in terms of pain reduction. The improvement in MMO was significant in the study group but it was not in the control group. The MMO improvement was significantly higher in the study group compared to the control group. In the study group, significant decrease was observed in PGE2 level, while the decreases in IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α levels were not significant. In the control group, no significant decrease was observed in any of the inflammatory cytokines after 8 weeks, moreover IL-1ß and IL-6 levels were increased. Alterations of IL-1ß and IL-6 levels were significant in study group while TNF-α and PGE2 levels were not, compared to control group. Conclusions In conclusion, these results might suggest that glucosamine-chondroitin combination significantly increases the MMO and decreases the synovial fluid IL1β and IL6 levels in internal derangements of TMJ compared to tramadol. The modifications of synovial fluid TNF-α and PGE2 levels do not reach statistical significance. This combination also provides efficient pain relief in similar level with tramadol, a narcotic analgesic. Key words: Chondroitin sulphate, glucosamine, internal derangement, TMJ, tramadol. PMID:25662545

Effect of PLA films containing propolis ethanolic extract, cellulose nanoparticle and Ziziphora clinopodioides essential oil on chemical, microbial and sensory properties of minced beef.

PubMed

Shavisi, Nassim; Khanjari, Ali; Basti, Afshin Akhondzadeh; Misaghi, Ali; Shahbazi, Yasser

2017-02-01

This study was conducted to examine the effects of polylactic acid (PLA) film containing propolis ethanolic extract (PE), cellulose nanoparticle (CN) and Ziziphora clinopodioides essential oil (ZEO) on chemical, microbial and sensory properties of minced beef during storage at refrigerated temperature for 11days. The initial total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N) was 8.2mg/100g and after 7days reached to 29.1mg/100g in control, while it was lower than 25mg/100g for treated samples. At the end of storage time in control samples peroxide value (PV) reached to 2.01meqperoxide/1000g lipid, while the values for the treated samples remained lower than 2meqperoxide/1000g lipid. Final microbial population decreased approximately 1-3logCFU/g in treated samples compared to control (P<0.05). Films containing 2% ZEO alone and in combination with different concentrations of PE and CN extended the shelf life of minced beef during storage in refrigerated condition for at least 11days without any unfavorable organoleptic properties. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Microheterogeneity of actin gels formed under controlled linear shear.

PubMed

Cortese, J D; Frieden, C

1988-10-01

The diffusion coefficients and fluorescence polarization properties of actin subjected to a known shear have been determined both during and after polymerization, using a modification of a cone-plate Wells-Brookfield rheometer that allows monitoring of samples with an epifluorescence microscope. Fluorescence polarization and fluorescence photobleaching recovery experiments using rhodamine-labeled actin as a tracer showed that under conditions of low shear (shear rates of 0.05 s-1), a spatial heterogeneity of polymerized actin was observed with respect to fluorescence intensity and the diffusion coefficients with actin mobility becoming quite variable in different regions of the sample. In addition, complex changes in fluorescence polarization were noted after stopping the shear. Actin filaments of controlled length were obtained using plasma gelsolin (gelsolin/actin molar ratios of 1:50 to 1:300). At ratios of 1:50, neither spatial heterogeneity nor changes in polarization were observed on subjecting the polymerized actin to shear. At ratios of approximately 1:100, a decrease on the intensity of fluorescence polarization occurs on stopping the shear. Longer filaments exhibit spatial micro-heterogeneity and complex changes in fluorescence polarization. In addition, at ratios of 1:100 or 1:300, the diffusion coefficient decreases as the total applied shear increased. This behavior is interpreted as bundling of filaments aligned under shear. We also find that the F-actin translational diffusion coefficients decrease as the total applied shear increases (shear rates between 0.05 and 12.66 s-1), as expected for a cumulative process. When chicken gizzard filamin was added to gelsolin-actin filaments (at filamin/actin molar ratios of 1:300 to 1:10), a similar decrease in the diffusion coefficients was observed for unsheared samples. Spatial microheterogeneity might be related to the effects of the shear field in the alignment of filaments, and the balance between a three-dimensional network and a microheterogeneous system (containing bundles or anisotropic phases) appears related to both shear and the presence of actin-binding proteins.

Mitotic and apoptotic activity in colorectal neoplasia.

PubMed

Kohoutova, Darina; Pejchal, Jaroslav; Bures, Jan

2018-05-18

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is third most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide. The aim of the prospective study was to evaluate mitosis and apoptosis of epithelial cells at each stage of colorectal neoplasia. A total of 61 persons were enrolled into the study: 18 patients with non-advanced colorectal adenoma (non-a-A), 13 patients with advanced colorectal adenoma (a-A), 13 patients with CRC and 17 controls: individuals with normal findings on colonoscopy. Biopsy samples were taken from pathology (patients) and healthy mucosa (patients and healthy controls). Samples were formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded and stained with haematoxylin-eosin. Mitotic and apoptotic activity were evaluated in lower and upper part of the crypts and in the superficial compartment. Apoptotic activity was also assessed using detection of activated caspase-3. In controls, mitotic activity was present in lower part of crypts, accompanied with low apoptotic activity. Mitotic and apoptotic activity decreased (to almost zero) in upper part of crypts. In superficial compartment, increase in apoptotic activity was observed. Transformation of healthy mucosa into non-a-A was associated with significant increase of mitotic activity in lower and upper part of the crypts and with significant increase of apoptotic activity in all three compartments; p < 0.05. Transformation of non-a-A into a-A did not lead to any further significant increase in apoptotic activity, but was related to significant increase in mitotic activity in upper part of crypts and superficial compartment. A significant decrease in apoptotic activity was detected in all three comparments of CRC samples compared to a-A; p < 0.05. No differences in mitotic and apoptotic activity between biopsies in healthy controls and biopsy samples from healthy mucosa in patients with colorectal neoplasia were observed. Detection of activated caspase-3 confirmed the above findings in apoptotic activity. Significant dysregulation of mitosis and apoptosis during the progression of colorectal neoplasia, corresponding with histology, was confirmed. In patients with sporadic colorectal neoplasia, healthy mucosa does not display different mitotic and apoptotic activity compared to mucosa in healthy controls and therefore adequate endoscopic/surgical removal of colorectal neoplasia is sufficient.

[Effects of exogenous glucose and starch on soil carbon metabolism of root zone and root function in potted sweet cherry].

PubMed

Zhou, Wen-jie; Zhang, Peng; Qin, Si-jun; Lyu, De-guo

2015-11-01

One-year-old potted sweet cheery trees were treated with 4 g · kg(-1) exogenous glucose or starch and with non-addition of exogenous carbon as the control for up to 60 days. Soil of root zone was sampled to analyze soil microbial biomass carbon, activities of invertase and amylase and microbial community functional diversity during the 60-day treatment, and roots were sampled for analysis of root respiratory rate, respiratory pathways and root viability after treatment for 30 days. Results showed that the invertase activity and the microbial biomass carbon initially increased and decreased subsequently, with the maxima which were 14.0% and 13.1% higher in the glucose treatment than in the control treatment appeared after 15 and 7 days of treatments, respectively. Soil organic matter content increased first then decreased and finally moderately increased again. Amylase activity was 7.5-fold higher in the starch treatment than in the control treatment after 15-day treatment. Soil microbial biomass carbon was higher in the starch treatment than in the control treatment except after 7-day treatment. Soil organic matter content initially increased and then decreased, but it was still 19.8% higher than in the control after 60-day treatment. BIOLOG results showed that the maximum average well color development (AWCD) value and microbial activity appeared after 15-day treatment in the following order: starch>glucose>control. After 30-day treatment, glucose treatment resulted in a significant increase in the soil microbial utilization of carbohydrates, carboxylic acid, amino acids, phenolic acids and amines, and starch treatment significantly increased the soil microbial utilization of carbohydrates, carboxylic acid, polymers and phenolic acids. After 30-day treatment, the total root respiratory rate and root viability were 21.4%, 19.4% and 65.5%, 37.0% higher in glucose treatment than in the control and starch treatments, respectively. These results indicated exogenous glucose and starch affected soil carbon metabolism and enhanced soil microbial activity, the root respiratory rate and root viability.

Diabetes self-management, depressive symptoms, metabolic control and satisfaction with quality of life over time in Chinese youth with type 1 diabetes.

PubMed

Guo, Jia; Whittemore, Robin; Jeon, Sangchoon; Grey, Margaret; Zhou, Zhi-Guang; He, Guo-Ping; Luo, Zi-Qiang

2015-05-01

To describe the patterns of diabetes self-management, depressive symptoms, metabolic control and satisfaction with quality of life over time in a cohort of Chinese youth with type 1 diabetes and to determine the relationships between these variables over time. Nurses have an important role in facilitating optimal self-management and health outcomes in youth with type 1 diabetes. Only a few studies have focused on patterns of diabetes adaptation over time in youth with type 1 diabetes, especially in China. Understanding changes in diabetes self-management, depressive symptoms, metabolic control and satisfaction with quality of life can facilitate assessment and intervention. This is a multi-site longitudinal descriptive study. Data for this report were collected at baseline with 136 eligible Chinese youth and 86 of them were followed up for the second time, 6-12 months after baseline data collection. Instruments to measure diabetes self-management, depressive symptoms, metabolic control and satisfaction with quality of life were collected at two time points. The data were collected from July 2009-October 2010. Linear mixed model analysis was used to analyse the longitudinal data. Self-management decreased over time; however, depressive symptoms, metabolic control and satisfaction with quality of life did not change from baseline to 6-12 months in this sample of Chinese youth with type 1 diabetes. A decrease in diabetes self-management over time was associated with worse metabolic control, while an increase in depressive symptoms over time was associated with poorer quality of life satisfaction in this sample. Chinese youth faced difficulties with diabetes adaptation, especially with the deterioration of diabetes self-management. Improving self-management and decreasing depressive symptoms may enhance diabetes adaptation with respect to metabolic control and quality of life. The deterioration of diabetes self-management over time in youth with type 1 diabetes in China deserves nurses' careful surveillance. Clinical interventions appropriate to the Chinese culture and health care system are needed to improve self-management and depressive symptoms in Chinese youth with type 1 diabetes. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in Decreasing Suicidal Ideation and Hopelessness of the Adolescents with Previous Suicidal Attempts

PubMed Central

Alavi, Ali; Sharifi, Bahare; Ghanizadeh, Ahmad; Dehbozorgi, Gholamreza

2013-01-01

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of a Cognitive-Behavioral therapy (CBT) for suicide prevention in decreasing suicidal ideation and hopelessness in a sample of depressed 12 to 18 year-old adolescents who had at least one previous suicidal attempt. Methods In a clinical trial, 30 depressed adolescents who attempted suicide in the recent 3 months were selected using simple sampling method and divided randomly into intervention and wait-list control groups. Both groups received psychiatric interventions as routine. The intervention group received a 12 session (once a week) of CBT program according to the package developed by Stanley et al, including psychoeducational interventions and individual and family skills training modules. All of the patients were evaluated by Scale for Suicidal Ideation, Beck's hopelessness Inventory, and Beck's Depression Inventory before the intervention and after 12 weeks. Findings There were significant differences between the two groups regarding the scores of the above mentioned scales after 12 weeks. Fifty-four to 77 percent decreases in the mean scores of the used scales were observed in the invention group. There were no significant changes in the scores of the control wait-list group. The differences between pre- and post-intervention scores in the intervention group were significant. Conclusion CBT is an effective method in reducing suicidal ideation and hopelessness in the depressed adolescents with previous suicidal attempts. PMID:24427502

Identification of Hot Moments and Hot Spots for Real-Time Adaptive Control of Multi-scale Environmental Sensor Networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wietsma, T.; Minsker, B. S.

2012-12-01

Increased sensor throughput combined with decreasing hardware costs has led to a disruptive growth in data volume. This disruption, popularly termed "the data deluge," has placed new demands for cyberinfrastructure and information technology skills among researchers in many academic fields, including the environmental sciences. Adaptive sampling has been well established as an effective means of improving network resource efficiency (energy, bandwidth) without sacrificing sample set quality relative to traditional uniform sampling. However, using adaptive sampling for the explicit purpose of improving resolution over events -- situations displaying intermittent dynamics and unique hydrogeological signatures -- is relatively new. In this paper, we define hot spots and hot moments in terms of sensor signal activity as measured through discrete Fourier analysis. Following this frequency-based approach, we apply the Nyquist-Shannon sampling theorem, a fundamental contribution from signal processing that led to the field of information theory, for analysis of uni- and multivariate environmental signal data. In the scope of multi-scale environmental sensor networks, we present several sampling control algorithms, derived from the Nyquist-Shannon theorem, that operate at local (field sensor), regional (base station for aggregation of field sensor data), and global (Cloud-based, computationally intensive models) scales. Evaluated over soil moisture data, results indicate significantly greater sample density during precipitation events while reducing overall sample volume. Using these algorithms as indicators rather than control mechanisms, we also discuss opportunities for spatio-temporal modeling as a tool for planning/modifying sensor network deployments. Locally adaptive model based on Nyquist-Shannon sampling theorem Pareto frontiers for local, regional, and global models relative to uniform sampling. Objectives are (1) overall sampling efficiency and (2) sampling efficiency during hot moments as identified using heuristic approach.

The effects of sodium sulfate in the water of nursery pigs and the efficacy of nonnutritive feed additives to mitigate those effects.

PubMed

Flohr, J R; Tokach, M D; Dritz, S S; DeRouchey, J M; Goodband, R D; Nelssen, J L

2014-08-01

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of sodium sulfate water and the efficacy of nonnutritive feed additives in nursery pig diets. In Exp. 1, 320 barrows (5.4 ± 0.1 kg BW and 21 d of age) were allotted to 1 of 8 treatments for 24 d in a 2 × 4 factorial with 2 levels of sodium sulfate water (control or 3,000 mg sodium sulfate/L added), and 4 dietary zeolite (clinoptilolite) levels (0, 0.25, 0.50, or 1%). Fecal samples were collected on d 5, 9, 16, and 23; visually scored for consistency (1 = firm and 5 = watery); and analyzed for DM. No interactions of sodium sulfate × zeolite were observed for any response criteria. Overall (d 0 to 24), pigs drinking sodium sulfate water had decreased (P < 0.01) ADG, ADFI, and G:F compared with pigs drinking control water. Pigs drinking sodium sulfate water also had increased (P < 0.01) fecal scores and lower (P < 0.04) fecal DM on d 5, 9, and 16 compared with pigs drinking control water. Increasing dietary zeolite increased (linear; P < 0.05) ADG and ADFI but had no effect on G:F. In Exp. 2, 350 barrows (5.7 ± 0.1 kg BW and 21 d of age) were allotted to 1 of 10 treatments in a 2 × 5 factorial for 21 d with 2 levels of sodium sulfate water (control or 2,000 mg sodium sulfate/L added) and 5 dietary treatments (control, 1 or 2% zeolite, 1% humic acid substance [HA], and 1% humic and fulvic acid substance [HFB]). Fecal samples were collected on d 5, 8, 15, and 21; visually scored for consistency (1 = firm and 5 = watery); and analyzed for DM. Overall (d 0 to 21), a water source × diet interaction was observed for ADG and G:F because pigs fed the 1% HA had decreased (P < 0.01) ADG and G:F when drinking sodium sulfate water compared with other treatments but increased ADG and G:F when drinking control water. Pigs drinking sodium sulfate water had decreased (P < 0.01) ADG and G:F and tended (P < 0.08) to have decreased ADFI compared with pigs drinking control water. Pigs drinking sodium sulfate water had increased (P < 0.01) fecal scores and decreased (P < 0.01) fecal DM on d 5 and 8. In conclusion, water high in sodium sulfate concentrations decreased growth performance and increased fecal moisture in newly weaned pigs. Although zeolite improved growth performance in the first experiment, it did not influence growth in the second study. The nonnutritive feed additives used in both experiments were unsuccessful in ameliorating the increased osmotic diarrhea observed from high sodium sulfate water.

A Pilot Study.

PubMed

Running, Alice; Hildreth, Laura

2017-03-01

To examine the effectiveness of a bio-energy intervention on self-reported stress for a convenience sample of University students, faculty, and staff during finals week. We hypothesized that participants would report a decrease in stress after a 20 minute bio-energy intervention. A quasi-experimental, single-group, pretest-posttest design was used. Thirty-nine faculty, staff, and students participated. Participants served as their own controls. A specific technique was provided by each bio-energy practitioner for 20 minutes after participants had completed a visual analogue scale identifying level of stress and listing two positive and negative behaviors they were currently using in response to stress. A one-sample t test indicates that bio-energy therapy significantly reduces stress, t(35) = 7.74, p < .0001. A multiple regression analysis further indicates that the decrease in stress levels is significantly greater for higher initial stress levels, t(31) = 4.748, p < .0001); decreases in stress are significantly greater for faculty and staff compared to students, t(31) = -2.223, p = .034; and decreases in stress levels are marginally significantly higher for older participants, t(31) =1.946, p = .061. Bio-energy therapy may have benefit in reducing stress for faculty, staff, and students during final examination week. Further research is needed.

Some quality attributes of low fat ice cream substituted with hulless barley flour and barley ß-glucan.

PubMed

Abdel-Haleem, Amal M H; Awad, R A

2015-10-01

The purpose of this paper is to investigate some quality attributes of low fat ice cream (LFIC) substituted with hulless barley flour (HBF) and barley ß-glucan (BBG). The methodology included in this paper is based on adding HBF (1, 2, 3 and 4 %) as a partial substitution of skim milk powder (SMP) and BBG (0.40 %) as a complete substitution of carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC). All mixes and resultant ice cream samples were evaluated for their physicochemical properties as well as the sensory quality attributes.The results indicated that substitution of SMP with HBF significantly increased total solids (TS), fat and crude fiber, while crude protein and ash significantly decreased in ice cream mixes. BBG exhibited the same manner of control. Specific gravity was gradually increased with adding HBFand BBG in the mixes and therefore the overrun percent was significantly changed in the resultant ice cream. Adding HBF in ice cream formula led to significant decrease in acidity with higher freezing point and the product showed higher ability to meltdown. BBG treatment showed the same trend of control. Values of flow time and viscosity significantly increased with increasing HBF in the ice cream mixes, but these values significantly decreased in BBG mix. The time required to freeze ice cream mixes was decreased with increasing the ratio of HBF but, increased in BBG treatment. The substitution of SMP with 1 and 2 % HBF significantly (P ≤ 0.05) enhanced sensory attributes of ice cream samples. While, BBG treatment achieved mild score and acceptability.

The effects of storing and transporting cryopreserved semen samples on dry ice.

PubMed

Til, David; Amaral, Vera L L; Salvador, Rafael A; Senn, Alfred; Paula, Thais S de

2016-12-01

This study aimed to test the effects on sperm viability of transporting cryopreserved semen samples on dry ice. Twenty normozoospermic semen samples were cryopreserved and divided into five groups. The samples in Group 1 were immersed in liquid nitrogen throughout the experiment in cryogenic storage tanks; the cryopreserved straws in Group 2 were placed in a Styrofoam box containing dry ice and kept under these conditions for 48 hours; the samples in Group 3 were kept for 48 hours on dry ice under the same conditions as the Group 2 samples, and were then moved to a storage tank filled with liquid nitrogen; Group 4 samples were also kept for 48 hours in dry ice storage, and the Styrofoam box containing the samples was shipped by plane to assess the effects of shipping; the samples in Group 5 were shipped together with the Group 4 samples and were placed in a storage tank with liquid nitrogen after spending 48 hours stored on dry ice. After thawing, sperm parameters were analyzed for viability, vitality, and motility; spermatozoa were also tested for mitochondrial activity. Significant decreases in motility recovery rates (P=0.01) and vitality (P=0.001) were observed in all groups when compared to the control group. Mitochondrial activity was significantly decreased only in Group 5 (P=0.04), as evidenced by greater numbers of sperm cells not stained by reagent 3,3'-diaminobenzidine. Transportation did not affect the quality of cryopreserved semen samples, but dry ice as a means to preserve the samples during transportation had detrimental effects upon the sperm parameters assessed in this study.

The National Food and Nutrient Analysis Program: A decade of progress

PubMed Central

Haytowitz, David B.; Pehrsson, Pamela R.; Holden, Joanne M.

2009-01-01

The National Food and Nutrient Analysis Program (NFNAP) was designed to expand the quantity and improve the quality of data in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) food composition databases through the collection and analysis of nationally representative samples of foods and beverages. This paper describes some of the findings from the NFNAP and its impact on the food composition databases produced by USDA. The NFNAP employs statistically valid sampling plans, comprehensive quality control, and USDA analytical oversight as part of the program to generate new and updated analytical data for food components. USDA food consumption and composition data were used to target those foods that are major contributors of nutrients of public health significance to the U.S. diet (454 Key Foods). Foods were ranked using a scoring system, divided into quartiles, and reviewed to determine the impact of changes in their composition compared to historical values. Foods were purchased from several types of locations, such as retail outlets and fast food restaurants in different geographic areas as determined by the sampling plan, then composited and sent for analysis to commercial laboratories and cooperators, along with quality control materials. Comparisons were made to assess differences between new NFNAP means generated from original analytical data and historical means. Recently generated results for nationally representative food samples show marked changes compared to database values for selected nutrients from unknown or non-representative sampling. A number of changes were observed in many high consumption foods, e.g. the vitamin A value for cooked carrots decreased from 1,225 to 860 RAE/100g; the fat value for fast food French fried potatoes increased by 13% (14.08 to 17.06 g/100g). Trans fatty acids in margarine have decreased as companies reformulate their products in response to the required addition of trans fatty acids content on the nutrition label. Values decreased from 19.7 g/100 in 2002 to 14.8 g/100 in 2006 for 80%-fat stick margarines and to 4.52 g/100 g for 80%-fat tub margarines. These changes reflect improved strategies for sampling and analysis of representative food samples, which enhance the reliability of nutrient estimates for Key Foods and subsequent assessments of nutrient intake. PMID:19578546

The Role of Salivary Neuropeptides in Pediatrics: Potential Biomarkers for Integrated Therapies.

PubMed

Gershan, Lynn A; Durham, Paul L; Skidmore, Jaci; Shimizu, Joshua; Cady, Ryan J; Sheng, Xiaoming; Maloney, Christopher G

2015-08-01

Objective measures of symptom response to integrated complementary approaches in pediatrics are evolving. The purpose of this study was to document the concentration range of salivary neuropeptides in healthy controls and in children with cancer, to explore correlations between serum and salivary measurements for Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) and Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide (VIP), and to determine whether there is a change in these salivary neuropeptide levels in response to integrated mind-body therapies. A non-randomized pragmatic study with three phases: Phase 1- Healthy Control Saliva-10 healthy controls provided saliva samples; Phase 2- Cancer Diagnosis Serum-Saliva- 16 mixed-type cancer patients provided blood and saliva samples; Phase 3- Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) Saliva Intervention- 12 patients with ALL provided pre- and post-complementary intervention saliva samples. 20-minutes of structured touch or scripted relaxation breathing were administered to patients in Phase 3; Phase 1 and 2 patients did not receive this intervention. cortisol, CGRP, VIP, State/Trait Anxiety Scale, visual analogue scale, vital signs. Salivary CGRP and VIP were similar for children in Phases 1 and 2. There was a correlation between serum and salivary VIP in the mixed cancer group, though not between serum and salivary CGRP. In Phase 3 children, following a complementary intervention, salivary CGRP, heart rate, and systolic blood pressure decreased. These data provide evidence of a decrease in sympathetic output after integrative/complementary therapy intervention in children with cancer. The study underscores the potential role of salivary neuropeptides as non-invasive biomarkers for integrated therapies in pediatrics.

The Role of Salivary Neuropeptides in Pediatrics: Potential Biomarkers for Integrated Therapies

PubMed Central

Gershan, Lynn A; Durham, Paul L; Skidmore, Jaci; Shimizu, Joshua; Cady, Ryan J; Sheng, Xiaoming; Maloney, Christopher G

2015-01-01

Introduction Objective measures of symptom response to integrated complementary approaches in pediatrics are evolving. The purpose of this study was to document the concentration range of salivary neuropeptides in healthy controls and in children with cancer, to explore correlations between serum and salivary measurements for Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) and Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide (VIP), and to determine whether there is a change in these salivary neuropeptide levels in response to integrated mind-body therapies. Methods A non-randomized pragmatic study with three phases: Phase 1- Healthy Control Saliva-10 healthy controls provided saliva samples; Phase 2- Cancer Diagnosis Serum-Saliva- 16 mixed-type cancer patients provided blood and saliva samples; Phase 3- Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) Saliva Intervention- 12 patients with ALL provided pre- and post-complementary intervention saliva samples. Interventions 20-minutes of structured touch or scripted relaxation breathing were administered to patients in Phase 3; Phase 1 and 2 patients did not receive this intervention. Outcome Measures cortisol, CGRP, VIP, State/Trait Anxiety Scale, visual analogue scale, vital signs. Results Salivary CGRP and VIP were similar for children in Phases 1 and 2. There was a correlation between serum and salivary VIP in the mixed cancer group, though not between serum and salivary CGRP. In Phase 3 children, following a complementary intervention, salivary CGRP, heart rate, and systolic blood pressure decreased. Discussion/Conclusions These data provide evidence of a decrease in sympathetic output after integrative/complementary therapy intervention in children with cancer. The study underscores the potential role of salivary neuropeptides as non-invasive biomarkers for integrated therapies in pediatrics. PMID:26388958

Water and Salt Stresses, Kinetin and Protein Synthesis in Tobacco Leaves 1

PubMed Central

Ben-Zioni, Aliza; Itai, C.; Vaadia, Y.

1967-01-01

The capacity of tobacco (Nicotiana rustica) leaf discs to incorporate l-leucine 14C into proteins was measured. Leaf discs were obtained from plants which experienced soil water depletion, or which were exposed to a saline or osmotic stress in the root medium. The stresses were brief of relatively short duration and water potential did not decrease below 4 bars in the root media. Leaf discs were sampled 2 hours after stress removal, achieved by reirrigation, or replacement of saline and osmotic solutions with normal nutrient solution. Plants were always turgid when leaves were sampled. All stressed tissues showed reduced capacity to incorporate l-leucine 14C into protein. The reduction was about 50% and could not be attributed either to reduced uptake into the discs, or to possible isotopic dilution. Incorporation decreased progressively with leaf age in control discs as well as in stressed leaf discs. At all ages tested, incorporation in stressed discs was lower than that of the control. Full recovery of incorporation capacity in stressed discs was obtained when discs were sampled 72 hours after stress removal but not earlier. Kinetin pretreatment prior to incubation with labelled leucine partially restored incorporation in stressed discs. The differences in response to kinetin of stressed and control discs suggest a lower endogenous level of cytokinins in the stressed discs. The results were qualitatively similar regardless of the kind of stress given to the plants during pretreatment. This supports the hypothesis that the normal supply of root cytokinins is important in shoot metabolism. PMID:16656515

Regulation of hematopoiesis in the suspended rat as a model for space flight

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dunn, C. D. R.; Johnson, P. C.

1984-01-01

A series of studies was completed in which a variety of routine hematological and other parameters were obtained from sequential sampling of control and suspended rats. These data showed that, during suspension, the rats failed to gain weight at the same rate as the controls, ate and drank significantly less, demonstrated a transient increase in peripheral hematocrit and RBC count, a transient decrease in MCH, suppressed reticulocyte counts and a progressive decrease in MCV but no change in RBC shape. Leukocyte counts were variably decreased but no significant changes in platelet numbers were noted. Post-suspension, evidence of anemia was present from a reduced RBC count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and MCV. A leukocytosis was also noted. Efforts directed to the collection of data aimed at understanding changes in blood volume during suspension are also discussed. As part of these studies the following parameters were investigated; RBC survival, in vitro leukocyte reactivity to PHA, bone marrow and spleen cellularity and morphology, ferrokinetics, and the hematopoietic inductive microenvironment.

Free cortisol and salivary alpha-amylase levels during a six-hour-water immersion in healthy young men

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rohleder, N.; Wirth, D.; Fraßl, W.; Kowoll, R.; Schlemmer, M.; Vogler, S.; Kirsch, K. A.; Kirschbaum, C.; Gunga, H.-C.

2005-08-01

Limited data are available on the response of stress systems to microgravity. Increased activity of stress systems is reported during space flight, but unchanged or decreased activity during simulated microgravity. We here investigated the impact of head-out water immersion on the activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic-adrenal-medullary (SAM) system.Eight healthy young men were exposed to a six-hour water immersion in a thermo neutral bath and a control condition. Saliva samples were taken before, during, and after interventions to assess cortisol as an index for HPA axis activity, and salivary α-amylase as an index for SAM system activity.Cortisol levels uniformly decreased during both conditions. Amylase levels increased during both conditions, but were significantly lower during the first half of water immersion compared to the control condition.In conclusion, the HPA axis is not influenced by simulated microgravity, while SAM system activity shows initial decreases during water immersion.

Issues in the analyze of low content gold mining samples by fire assay technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cetean, Valentina

2016-04-01

The classic technique analyze of samples with low gold content - below 0.1 g/t (=100 ppb = parts per billion), either ore or gold sediments, involves the preparation of sample by fire assay extraction, followed by the chemical attack with aqua regia (hydrochloric and nitric acid) and measuring the gold content by atomic absorption spectrometry or inductively coupled mass spectrometry. The issues raised by this analysis are well known for the world laboratories, commercial or research ones. The author's knowledge regarding this method of determining the gold content, accumulated in such laboratory from Romania (with more than 40 years of experience, even if not longer available from 2014) confirms the obtaining of reliable results required a lot of attention, amount of work and the involving of an experienced fire assayer specialist. The analytical conclusion for a research laboratory is that most reliable and statistically valid results are till reached for samples with more than 100 ppb gold content; the degree of confidence below this value is lower than 90%. Usually, for samples below 50 ppb, it does not exceed 50-70 %, unless without very strictly control of each stage, that involve additional percentage of hours allocated for successive extracting tests and knowing more precisely the other compounds that appear in the sample (Cu, Sb, As, sulfur / sulphides, Te, organic matter, etc.) or impurities. The most important operation is the preparation, namely: - grinding and splitting of sample (which can cause uneven distribution of gold flakes in the double samples for analyzed); - pyro-metallurgical recovery of gold = fire assay stage, involving the more precise temperature control in furnace during all stages (fusion and cupellation) and adjusting of the fire assay flux components to produce a successful fusion depending of the sample matrix and content; - reducing the sample weight to decrease the amount of impurities that can be concentrated in the lead button during oxidation stage. The better metal recovery and the decreasing of the amount of errors for low gold content samples are controlled in this case by: - the management of the quantity of one or more components of the flux, depending on the chemical composition of the sample (sometimes just by observing the behavior and the visual characteristics of lead Au + Ag button/bead and the resulted slag); - addition of gold-free silver, which will be removed by chemical reduction with aqua regia after the fire assay stage. Regarding the instrumental analyze stage of the samples with less than 100 ppb gold content, there were obtained similar values by both techniques: atomic absorption and inductively coupled mass spectrometry, taking into account each of them has different detection limit. It is mandatory the quality control with a certified reference material with known content, both in the fire assay stage and the reading instrumental stage. This abstract are written in the frame of the SUSMIN project: "Tools for sustainable gold mining in EU".

Assessment of breadmaking performance of wheat flour dough by means of frequency dependent ultrasound

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Braunstein, D.; Page, J. H.; Strybulevych, A.; Peressini, D.; Scanlon, M. G.

2012-12-01

Technological performance of wheat flour varies among different wheat varieties. Gluten plays a key role within the solid phase of dough in the formation and the retention of gas bubbles during breadmaking. Rheological tests are usually performed to predict breadmaking potential. The aim here was to investigate the ability of ultrasound to discriminate wheat doughs based on breadmaking qualities. The ultimate goal is the development of an online quality control system currently unavailable in the baked goods industry, rendering this work innovative. Samples were prepared from a strong wheat flour, with one control sample and one added with inulin and distilled monoglycerides, producing doughs of distinct breadmaking quality. Doughs were subjected to density determination, elongation tests, and ultrasound analysis. The ultrasound tests were performed in the frequency range of 300 kHz - 6 MHz. Ultrasonic phase velocity increased with increasing frequency to about 2 MHz, becoming constant and then decreasing from 3 MHz for the control sample. Distinct differences in attenuation coefficient between the fibre-enriched and control doughs were observed. Ultrasound can potentially add to a better understanding of dough quality and can discriminate between doughs of contrasting properties.

The controlled release of tilmicosin from silica nanoparticles.

PubMed

Song, Meirong; Li, Yanyan; Fai, Cailing; Cui, Shumin; Cui, Baoan

2011-06-01

The aim of this study was to use silica nanoparticles as the carrier for controlled release of tilmicosin. Tilmicosin was selected as a drug model molecule because it has a lengthy elimination half-life and a high concentration in milk after subcutaneous administration. Three samples of tilmicosin-loaded silica nanoparticles were prepared with different drug-loading weight. The drug-loading weight in three samples, as measured by thermal gravimetric analysis, was 29%, 42%, and 64%, respectively. With increased drug-loading weight, the average diameter of the drug-loaded silica nanoparticles was increased from 13.4 to 25.7 nm, and the zeta potential changed from-30.62 to-6.78 mV, indicating that the stability of the drug-loaded particles in the aqueous solution decreases as drug-loading weight increases. In vitro release studies in phosphate-buffered saline showed the sample with 29% drug loading had a slow and sustained drug release, reaching 44% after 72 h. The release rate rose with increased drug-loading weight; therefore, the release of tilmicosin from silica nanoparticles was well-controlled by adjusting the drug loading. Finally, kinetics analysis suggested that drug released from silica nanoparticles was mainly a diffusion-controlled process.

Decreased Serum Thrombospondin-1 Levels in Pancreatic Cancer Patients Up to 24 Months Prior to Clinical Diagnosis: Association with Diabetes Mellitus.

PubMed

Jenkinson, Claire; Elliott, Victoria L; Evans, Anthony; Oldfield, Lucy; Jenkins, Rosalind E; O'Brien, Darragh P; Apostolidou, Sophia; Gentry-Maharaj, Aleksandra; Fourkala, Evangelia-O; Jacobs, Ian J; Menon, Usha; Cox, Trevor; Campbell, Fiona; Pereira, Stephen P; Tuveson, David A; Park, B Kevin; Greenhalf, William; Sutton, Robert; Timms, John F; Neoptolemos, John P; Costello, Eithne

2016-04-01

Identification of serum biomarkers enabling earlier diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) could improve outcome. Serum protein profiles in patients with preclinical disease and at diagnosis were investigated. Serum from cases up to 4 years prior to PDAC diagnosis and controls (UKCTOCS,n= 174) were studied, alongside samples from patients diagnosed with PDAC, chronic pancreatitis, benign biliary disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and healthy subjects (n= 298). Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) enabled comparisons of pooled serum from a test set (n= 150). Validation was undertaken using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) and/or Western blotting in all 472 human samples and samples from a KPC mouse model. iTRAQ identified thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) as reduced preclinically and in diagnosed samples. MRM confirmed significant reduction in levels of TSP-1 up to 24 months prior to diagnosis. A combination of TSP-1 and CA19-9 gave an AUC of 0.86, significantly outperforming both markers alone (0.69 and 0.77, respectively;P< 0.01). TSP-1 was also decreased in PDAC patients compared with healthy controls (P< 0.05) and patients with benign biliary obstruction (P< 0.01). Low levels of TSP-1 correlated with poorer survival, preclinically (P< 0.05) and at clinical diagnosis (P< 0.02). In PDAC patients, reduced TSP-1 levels were more frequently observed in those with confirmed diabetes mellitus (P< 0.01). Significantly lower levels were also observed in PDAC patients with diabetes compared with individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (P= 0.01). Circulating TSP-1 levels decrease up to 24 months prior to diagnosis of PDAC and significantly enhance the diagnostic performance of CA19-9. The influence of diabetes mellitus on biomarker behavior should be considered in future studies. ©2015 American Association for Cancer Research.

The role of silver in the processing and properties of Bi-2212

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lang, TH.; Heeb, B.; Buhl, D.; Gauckler, L. J.

1995-01-01

The influence of the silver content and the oxygen partial pressure on the solidus temperature and the weight loss during melting of Bi2Sr2Ca1Cu2O(x) has been examined by means of DTA and TGA. By decreasing the oxygen partial pressure the solidus is lowered (e.g. del T = 59 C by decreasing pO2 from 1 atm to 0.001 atm) and the weight loss is increased. The addition of silver causes two effects: (1) the solidus is further decreased (e.g. 2 wt% Ag lower T (solidus) by up to 25 C, depending on the oxygen partial pressure); and (2) the weight loss during melting is reduced. Thick films (10-20 micron in thickness) with 0 and 5 wt% silver and bulk samples with) and 2.7 wt% silver were melt processed in flowing oxygen on a silver substrate in the DTA, allowing the observation of the melting process and a good temperature control. The critical current densities are vigorously dependent on the maximum processing temperature. The highest j(sub c) in thick films (8000 A/sq cm at 77 K, O T) was reached by melting 7 C above the solidus temperature. The silver addition shows no significant effect on the processing parameters or the superconducting properties. The highest j(sub c) for bulk samples (1 mm in thickness) was obtained by partial melting at 900 C or 880 C, depending on the silver content of the powder (0 or 2.7 wt%). The j(sub c) of the samples is slightly enhanced from 1800 A/sq cm (at 77 K, O T) to 2000 A/sq cm by the silver addition. To be able to reach at least 80% of the maximum critical current density, the temperature has to be controlled in a window of 5 C for thick films and 17 C for bulk samples.

Shelf life extension of minimally processed cabbage and cucumber through gamma irradiation.

PubMed

Khattak, Amal Badshah; Bibi, Nizakat; Chaudry, Muhammad Ashraf; Khan, Misal; Khan, Maazullah; Qureshi, Muhammad Jamil

2005-01-01

The influence of irradiation of minimally processed cabbage and cucumber on microbial safety, texture, and sensory quality was investigated. Minimally processed, polyethylene-packed, and irradiated cabbage and cucumber were stored at refrigeration temperature (5 degrees C) for 2 weeks. The firmness values ranged from 3.23 kg (control) to 2.82 kg (3.0-kGy irradiated samples) for cucumbers, with a gradual decrease in firmness with increasing radiation dose (0 to 3 kGy). Cucumbers softened just after irradiation with a dose of 3.0 kGy and after 14 days storage, whereas the texture remained within acceptable limits up to a radiation dose of 2.5 kGy. The radiation treatment had no effect on the appearance scores of cabbage; however, scores decreased from 7.0 to 6.7 during storage. The appearance and flavor scores of cucumbers decreased with increasing radiation dose, and overall acceptability was better after radiation doses of 2.5 and 3.0 kGy. The aerobic plate counts per gram for cabbage increased from 3 to 5 log CFU (control), from 1.85 to 2.93 log CFU (2.5 kGy), and from a few colonies to 2.6 log CFU (3.0 kGy) after 14 days of storage at 5 degrees C. A similar trend was noted for cucumber samples. No coliform bacteria were detected at radiation doses greater than 2.0 kGy in either cabbage or cucumber samples. Total fungal counts per gram of sample were within acceptable limits for cucumbers irradiated at 3.0 kGy, and for cabbage no fungi were detected after 2.0-kGy irradiation. The D-values for Escherichia coli in cucumber and cabbage were 0.19 and 0.17 kGy, and those for Salmonella Paratyphi A were 0.25 and 0.29 kGy for cucumber and cabbage, respectively.

Practical continuous-variable quantum key distribution without finite sampling bandwidth effects.

PubMed

Li, Huasheng; Wang, Chao; Huang, Peng; Huang, Duan; Wang, Tao; Zeng, Guihua

2016-09-05

In a practical continuous-variable quantum key distribution system, finite sampling bandwidth of the employed analog-to-digital converter at the receiver's side may lead to inaccurate results of pulse peak sampling. Then, errors in the parameters estimation resulted. Subsequently, the system performance decreases and security loopholes are exposed to eavesdroppers. In this paper, we propose a novel data acquisition scheme which consists of two parts, i.e., a dynamic delay adjusting module and a statistical power feedback-control algorithm. The proposed scheme may improve dramatically the data acquisition precision of pulse peak sampling and remove the finite sampling bandwidth effects. Moreover, the optimal peak sampling position of a pulse signal can be dynamically calibrated through monitoring the change of the statistical power of the sampled data in the proposed scheme. This helps to resist against some practical attacks, such as the well-known local oscillator calibration attack.

Brassica rapa plants adapted to microgravity with reduced photosystem I and its photochemical activity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jiao, Shunxing; Hilaire, Emmanuel; Paulsen, Avelina Q.; Guikema, James A.

2004-01-01

The photosynthetic apparatus contains several protein complexes, many of which are regulated by environmental conditions. In this study, the influences of microgravity on PSI and PSII in Brassica rapa plants grown aboard the space shuttle were examined. We found that Brassica plants grown in space had a normal level of growth relative to controls under similar conditions on Earth. Upon return to Earth, cotyledons were harvested and thylakoid membranes were isolated. Analysis of chlorophyll contents showed that the Chl a/b ratio (3.5) in flight cotyledons was much higher than a ratio of 2.42 in the ground controls. The flight samples also had a reduction of PSI complexes and a corresponding 30% decrease of PSI photochemical activity. Immunoblotting showed that the reaction centre polypeptides of PSI were more apparently decreased (e.g. by 24-33% for PsaA and PsaB, and 57% for PsaC) than the light-harvesting complexes. In comparison, the accumulation of PSII complex was less affected in microgravity, thus only a slight reduction in D1, D2 and LHCII was observed in protein blots. However, there was a 32% decrease of OEC1 in the flight samples, indicating a defective OEC subcomplex. In addition, an average 54% increase of the 54 kDa CF1-beta isoform was found in the flight samples, suggesting that space-grown plants suffered from certain stresses, consistent with implications of the increased Chl a/b ratio. Taken together, the results demonstrated that Brassica plants can adapt to spaceflight microgravity, but with significant alterations in chloroplast structures and photosynthetic complexes, and especially reduction of PSI and its activity.

Dual effect of insulin resistance and cadmium on human granulosa cells - In vitro study

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Belani, Muskaan, E-mail: muskaanbelani@gmail.com

Combined exposure of cadmium (Cd) and insulin resistance (IR) might be responsible for subfertility. In the present study, we investigated the effects of Cd in vitro in IR human granulosa cells. Isolated human granulosa cells from control and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) follicular fluid samples were confirmed for IR by decrease in protein expression of insulin receptor-β. Control and IR human granulosa cells were then incubated with or without 32 μM Cd. The combined effect of IR with 32 μM Cd in granulosa cells demonstrated significant decrease in expression of StAR, CYP11A1, CYP19A1, 17β-HSD, 3β-HSD, FSH-R and LH-R. Decrease wasmore » also observed in progesterone and estradiol concentrations as compared to control. Additionally, increase in protein expression of cleaved PARP-F2, active caspase-3 and a positive staining for Annexin V and PI indicated apoptosis as the mode of increased cell death ultimately leading to decreased steroidogenesis, as observed through the combined exposure. Taken together the results suggest decrease in steroidogenesis ultimately leading to abnormal development of the follicle thus compromising fertility at the level of preconception. - Highlights: • Protein expression of INSR-β in granulosa cells to differentiate PCOS-IR and NIR • Cd and IR together decrease steroidogenesis in human granulosa cells in vitro. • Cd and IR increase human granulosa cell death by increase in apoptosis. • Environment and life style are set to hamper pregnancies at preconception level.« less

[Decreased beta-phenylethylamine in urine of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autistic disorder].

PubMed

Kusaga, Akira

2002-05-01

beta-phenylethylamine (PEA), a biogenic trace amine, acts as a neuromodulator in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway and stimulates the release of dopamine. To clarify the mechanism of neurochemical metabolism in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), we measured the urine levels of PEA using gas chromatography-chemical ionization-mass spectrometry. The urinary levels of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl glycol (MHPG), homovanillic acid (HVA), and 5-hydroxy-indoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. Urine samples were collected in a 24 hour period. Findings were compared with those obtained from controls (N = 15), children with ADHD (N = 15), and children with autistic disorder (AD) (N = 5). The mean urinary levels of MHPG, HVA, and 5-HIAA in the children with ADHD were not significantly different from those of the controls or those with AD, whereas PEA levels were significantly lower in children with ADHD (11.23 +/- 13.40 micrograms/g creatinine) compared with controls (56.01 +/- 52.18 micrograms/g creatinine). PEA and MHPG levels in children with AD (14.75 +/- 14.37 micrograms/g creatine, 1.10 +/- 0.61 micrograms/mg creatine, respectively) were significantly decreased compared to controls (MHPG, 2.2 +/- 0.9 micrograms/mg creatine). The decreased urine PEA in children with ADHD and AD may suggest a common underlying pathophysiology. The decreased urine MHPG in children with AD might indicate the existence of an alteration in central and peripheral noradrenergic function.

Reduced availability of sugar-sweetened beverages and diet soda has a limited impact on beverage consumption patterns in Maine high school youth.

PubMed

Blum, Janet E Whatley; Davee, Anne-Marie; Beaudoin, Christina M; Jenkins, Paul L; Kaley, Lori A; Wigand, Debra A

2008-01-01

To examine change in high school students' beverage consumption patterns pre- and post-intervention of reduced availability of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and diet soda in school food venues. A prospective, quasi-experimental, nonrandomized study design. Public high schools. A convenience sample from control (n = 221) and intervention (n = 235) high schools. Schools aimed to reduce (n = 4) or not change (n = 3) availability of SSB and diet soda in food venues for 1 school year. Subjects' beverage servings/day was determined from a food frequency questionnaire pre- and post-intervention. Two-by-two mixed analysis of variance model compared pre- to post-intervention servings/day between control and intervention subjects, stratified by gender. Consumption of SSB decreased in both intervention and control boys (F = 53.69, P < .05) and girls (F = 22.87, P < .05). Intervention girls decreased diet soda consumption as compared to control girls (F = 6.57, P < .05). Reducing availability of SSB in schools did not result in a greater decrease in SSB consumption by intervention as compared to control subjects. The impact of reducing availability of SSB at school may be limited. A better understanding of beverage consumption patterns may be needed to determine the efficacy of school food policies on those youth susceptible to obesity.

Intraperitoneal curcumin decreased lung, renal and heart injury in abdominal aorta ischemia/reperfusion model in rat.

PubMed

Aydin, Mehmet Salih; Caliskan, Ahmet; Kocarslan, Aydemir; Kocarslan, Sezen; Yildiz, Ali; Günay, Samil; Savik, Emin; Hazar, Abdussemet; Yalcin, Funda

2014-01-01

Previous studies have demonstrated that curcumin (CUR) has protective effects against ischemia reperfusion injury to various organs. We aimed to determine whether CUR has favorable effects on tissues and oxidative stress in abdominal aorta ischemia-reperfusion injury. Thirty rats were divided into three groups as sham, control and treatment (CUR) group. Control and CUR groups underwent abdominal aorta ischemia for 60 min followed by a 120 min period of reperfusion. In the CUR group, CUR was given 5 min before reperfusion at a dose of 200 mg/kg via an intraperitoneal route. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidative status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) in blood serum were measured, and lung, renal and heart tissue histopathology were evaluated with light microscopy. TOS and OSI activity in blood samples were statistically decreased in sham and CUR groups compared to the control group (p < 0.001 for TOS and OSI). Renal, lung, heart injury scores of sham and CUR groups were statistically decreased compared to control group (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). Histopathological examination revealed less severe lesions in CUR group than in the control group. CUR administered intraperitoneally was effective in reducing oxidative stress and histopathologic injury in an acute abdominal aorta I/R rat model. Copyright © 2014 Surgical Associates Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of denture cleansing agents on tensile and shear bond strengths of soft liners to acrylic denture base.

PubMed

Mahboub, Farhang; Salehsaber, Fariba; Parnia, Fereydoon; Gharekhani, Vahedeh; Kananizadeh, Yousef; Taghizadeh, Mahsa

2017-01-01

Background. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Corega and 2.5% sodium hypochlorite cleansing agents on the shear and tensile bond strengths of GC soft liner to denture base. Methods. A total of 144 samples (72 samples for tensile and 72 for shear bond strength evaluations) were prepared. The samples in each group were subdivided into three subgroups in terms of the cleansing agent used (2.5% sodium hypochlorite, Corega and distilled water [control group]). All the samples were stored in distilled water, during which each sample was immersed for 15 minutes daily in sodium hypochlorite or Corega solutions. After 20 days the tensile and shear bond strengths were determined using a universal testing machine. In addition, a stereomicroscope was used to evaluate fracture modes. Data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA, using SPSS 16. Results. The results of post hoc Tukey tests showed significant differences in the mean tensile and shear bond strength values between the sodium hypochlorite group with Corega and control groups (P=0.001 for comparison of tensile bond strengths between the sodium hypochlorite and control groups, and P<0.001 for the comparison of tensile bond strengths between the sodium hypochlorite and Corega groups and the shear bond strengths between the sodium hypochlorite and Corega groups, and sodium hypochlorite and control groups).The majority of failures were cohesive in the control and Corega groups and cohesive/adhesive in the sodium hypochlorite group. Conclusion. Immersion of soft liners in Corega will result in longevity of soft liners compared to immersion in sodium hypochlorite solution and sodium hypochlorite solution significantly decreased the tensile and shear bond strengths compared to the control and Corega groups.

Effect of denture cleansing agents on tensile and shear bond strengths of soft liners to acrylic denture base

PubMed Central

Mahboub, Farhang; Salehsaber, Fariba; Parnia, Fereydoon; Gharekhani, Vahedeh; Kananizadeh, Yousef; Taghizadeh, Mahsa

2017-01-01

Background. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Corega and 2.5% sodium hypochlorite cleansing agents on the shear and tensile bond strengths of GC soft liner to denture base. Methods. A total of 144 samples (72 samples for tensile and 72 for shear bond strength evaluations) were prepared. The samples in each group were subdivided into three subgroups in terms of the cleansing agent used (2.5% sodium hypochlorite, Corega and distilled water [control group]). All the samples were stored in distilled water, during which each sample was immersed for 15 minutes daily in sodium hypochlorite or Corega solutions. After 20 days the tensile and shear bond strengths were determined using a universal testing machine. In addition, a stereomicroscope was used to evaluate fracture modes. Data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA, using SPSS 16. Results. The results of post hoc Tukey tests showed significant differences in the mean tensile and shear bond strength values between the sodium hypochlorite group with Corega and control groups (P=0.001 for comparison of tensile bond strengths between the sodium hypochlorite and control groups, and P<0.001 for the comparison of tensile bond strengths between the sodium hypochlorite and Corega groups and the shear bond strengths between the sodium hypochlorite and Corega groups, and sodium hypochlorite and control groups).The majority of failures were cohesive in the control and Corega groups and cohesive/adhesive in the sodium hypochlorite group. Conclusion. Immersion of soft liners in Corega will result in longevity of soft liners compared to immersion in sodium hypochlorite solution and sodium hypochlorite solution significantly decreased the tensile and shear bond strengths compared to the control and Corega groups. PMID:29184635

The rheology, microstructure and sensory characteristics of a gluten-free bread formulation enhanced with orange pomace.

PubMed

O'Shea, Norah; Doran, Linda; Auty, Mark; Arendt, Elke; Gallagher, Eimear

2013-12-01

The present manuscript studied a previously optimised gluten-free bread formulation containing 5.5% orange pomace (OP) in relation to the batter characteristics (i.e. pre-baking), microstructure (of the flours, batter and bread) and sensory characteristics of the bread. Rheology, RVA and mixolab results illustrated that orange pomace improved the robustness of the gluten-free batter and decreased the occurrence of starch gelatinisation. This was confirmed from the confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) images, which showed potato starch granules to be more expanded in the control batter when compared to the sample containing orange pomace. Starch granules were also observed to be more enlarged and swollen in the CLSM bread images, suggesting a higher level of gelatinisation occurred in the control sample. Sensory analysis was carried out on the optimised and control bread; panellists scored the flavour, crumb appearance and overall acceptability of the OP-containing breads comparable to the control.

Predictive control of hollow-fiber bioreactors for the production of monoclonal antibodies.

PubMed

Dowd, J E; Weber, I; Rodriguez, B; Piret, J M; Kwok, K E

1999-05-20

The selection of medium feed rates for perfusion bioreactors represents a challenge for process optimization, particularly in bioreactors that are sampled infrequently. When the present and immediate future of a bioprocess can be adequately described, predictive control can minimize deviations from set points in a manner that can maximize process consistency. Predictive control of perfusion hollow-fiber bioreactors was investigated in a series of hybridoma cell cultures that compared operator control to computer estimation of feed rates. Adaptive software routines were developed to estimate the current and predict the future glucose uptake and lactate production of the bioprocess at each sampling interval. The current and future glucose uptake rates were used to select the perfusion feed rate in a designed response to deviations from the set point values. The routines presented a graphical user interface through which the operator was able to view the up-to-date culture performance and assess the model description of the immediate future culture performance. In addition, fewer samples were taken in the computer-estimated cultures, reducing labor and analytical expense. The use of these predictive controller routines and the graphical user interface decreased the glucose and lactate concentration variances up to sevenfold, and antibody yields increased by 10% to 43%. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Imaging system design and image interpolation based on CMOS image sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yu-feng; Liang, Fei; Guo, Rui

2009-11-01

An image acquisition system is introduced, which consists of a color CMOS image sensor (OV9620), SRAM (CY62148), CPLD (EPM7128AE) and DSP (TMS320VC5509A). The CPLD implements the logic and timing control to the system. SRAM stores the image data, and DSP controls the image acquisition system through the SCCB (Omni Vision Serial Camera Control Bus). The timing sequence of the CMOS image sensor OV9620 is analyzed. The imaging part and the high speed image data memory unit are designed. The hardware and software design of the image acquisition and processing system is given. CMOS digital cameras use color filter arrays to sample different spectral components, such as red, green, and blue. At the location of each pixel only one color sample is taken, and the other colors must be interpolated from neighboring samples. We use the edge-oriented adaptive interpolation algorithm for the edge pixels and bilinear interpolation algorithm for the non-edge pixels to improve the visual quality of the interpolated images. This method can get high processing speed, decrease the computational complexity, and effectively preserve the image edges.

A Simple Method for Decreasing the Liquid Junction Potential in a Flow-through-Type Differential pH Sensor Probe Consisting of pH-FETs by Exerting Spatiotemporal Control of the Liquid Junction

PubMed Central

Yamada, Akira; Mohri, Satoshi; Nakamura, Michihiro; Naruse, Keiji

2015-01-01

The liquid junction potential (LJP), the phenomenon that occurs when two electrolyte solutions of different composition come into contact, prevents accurate measurements in potentiometry. The effect of the LJP is usually remarkable in measurements of diluted solutions with low buffering capacities or low ion concentrations. Our group has constructed a simple method to eliminate the LJP by exerting spatiotemporal control of a liquid junction (LJ) formed between two solutions, a sample solution and a baseline solution (BLS), in a flow-through-type differential pH sensor probe. The method was contrived based on microfluidics. The sensor probe is a differential measurement system composed of two ion-sensitive field-effect transistors (ISFETs) and one Ag/AgCl electrode. With our new method, the border region of the sample solution and BLS is vibrated in order to mix solutions and suppress the overshoot after the sample solution is suctioned into the sensor probe. Compared to the conventional method without vibration, our method shortened the settling time from over two min to 15 s and reduced the measurement error by 86% to within 0.060 pH. This new method will be useful for improving the response characteristics and decreasing the measurement error of many apparatuses that use LJs. PMID:25835300

Harmonic reduction of Direct Torque Control of six-phase induction motor.

PubMed

Taheri, A

2016-07-01

In this paper, a new switching method in Direct Torque Control (DTC) of a six-phase induction machine for reduction of current harmonics is introduced. Selecting a suitable vector in each sampling period is an ordinal method in the ST-DTC drive of a six-phase induction machine. The six-phase induction machine has 64 voltage vectors and divided further into four groups. In the proposed DTC method, the suitable voltage vectors are selected from two vector groups. By a suitable selection of two vectors in each sampling period, the harmonic amplitude is decreased more, in and various comparison to that of the ST-DTC drive. The harmonics loss is greater reduced, while the electromechanical energy is decreased with switching loss showing a little increase. Spectrum analysis of the phase current in the standard and new switching table DTC of the six-phase induction machine and determination for the amplitude of each harmonics is proposed in this paper. The proposed method has a less sampling time in comparison to the ordinary method. The Harmonic analyses of the current in the low and high speed shows the performance of the presented method. The simplicity of the proposed method and its implementation without any extra hardware is other advantages of the proposed method. The simulation and experimental results show the preference of the proposed method. Copyright © 2016 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Superhydrophobicity of biological and technical surfaces under moisture condensation: stability in relation to surface structure.

PubMed

Mockenhaupt, Bernd; Ensikat, Hans-Jürgen; Spaeth, Manuel; Barthlott, Wilhelm

2008-12-02

The stability of superhydrophobic properties of eight plants and four technical surfaces in respect to water condensation has been compared. Contact and sliding angles were measured after application of water drops of ambient temperature (20 degrees C) onto cooled surfaces. Water evaporating from the drops condensed, due to the temperature difference between the drops and the surface, on the cooled samples, forming "satellite droplets" in the vicinity of the drops. Surface cooling to 15, 10, and 5 degrees C showed a gradual decrease of superhydrophobicity. The decrease was dependent on the specific surface architecture of the sample. The least decrease was found on hierarchically structured surfaces with a combination of a coarse microstructure and submicrometer-sized structures, similar to that of the Lotus leaf. Control experiments with glycerol droplets, which show no evaporation, and thus no condensation, were carried out to verify that the effects with water were caused by condensation from the drop (secondary condensation). Furthermore, the superhydrophobic properties after condensation on cooled surfaces from a humid environment for 10 min were examined. After this period, the surfaces were covered with spherical water droplets, but most samples retained their superhydrophobicity. Again, the best stability of the water-repellent properties was found on hierarchically structured surfaces similar to that of the Lotus leaf.

Anti-DNase I antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus: diagnostic value and share in the enzyme inhibition.

PubMed

Trofimenko, A S; Gontar, I P; Zborovsky, A B; Paramonova, O V

2016-04-01

Diagnostic accuracy of anti-DNase I antibodies measurement in a differentiation between SLE and other autoimmune rheumatic diseases was evaluated. The share of anti-DNase I and actin in the DNase I activity decrease in SLE was established. Serum samples were obtained from 54 patients with verified SLE, 52 control patients with other autoimmune rheumatic diseases, and 44 healthy persons. Anti-DNase I concentrations were measured by ELISA. Free and actin inhibited DNase I activities were evaluated in the fresh serum samples. The appraisal of antibodies and actin effects on DNase I activity was made using multiple regression. Anti-DNase I antibodies were positive in 35 SLE and 8 control patients, without significant difference between the mean antibody concentrations. Sensitivity of this test was 64.81 %, and specificity-84.62 %. Mean free DNase I activity in SLE was somewhat lower than in the control group as a result of augmented frequency of extremely low enzyme activities. On the contrary, after the exclusion of the latter cases we have revealed elevated mean free DNase I activity in the other SLE patients comparing to the similar control subgroup. Unlike the controls, low serum DNase I activity in SLE arose not only from actin and antibody action, but also, in half of the cases, from unidentified factor, related to active SLE. The accuracy of the anti-DNase I antibodies measurement is approximate to the present reference standard of SLE diagnostics. We first demonstrated that neither antibodies nor actin caused DNase I activity decrease in SLE.

The Microbiome in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Trauma-Exposed Controls: An Exploratory Study.

PubMed

Hemmings, Sian M J; Malan-Müller, Stefanie; van den Heuvel, Leigh L; Demmitt, Brittany A; Stanislawski, Maggie A; Smith, David G; Bohr, Adam D; Stamper, Christopher E; Hyde, Embriette R; Morton, James T; Marotz, Clarisse A; Siebler, Philip H; Braspenning, Maarten; Van Criekinge, Wim; Hoisington, Andrew J; Brenner, Lisa A; Postolache, Teodor T; McQueen, Matthew B; Krauter, Kenneth S; Knight, Rob; Seedat, Soraya; Lowry, Christopher A

2017-10-01

Inadequate immunoregulation and elevated inflammation may be risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and microbial inputs are important determinants of immunoregulation; however, the association between the gut microbiota and PTSD is unknown. This study investigated the gut microbiome in a South African sample of PTSD-affected individuals and trauma-exposed (TE) controls to identify potential differences in microbial diversity or microbial community structure. The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 was used to diagnose PTSD according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition criteria. Microbial DNA was extracted from stool samples obtained from 18 individuals with PTSD and 12 TE control participants. Bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene V3/V4 amplicons were generated and sequenced. Microbial community structure, α-diversity, and β-diversity were analyzed; random forest analysis was used to identify associations between bacterial taxa and PTSD. There were no differences between PTSD and TE control groups in α- or β-diversity measures (e.g., α-diversity: Shannon index, t = 0.386, p = .70; β-diversity, on the basis of analysis of similarities: Bray-Curtis test statistic = -0.033, p = .70); however, random forest analysis highlighted three phyla as important to distinguish PTSD status: Actinobacteria, Lentisphaerae, and Verrucomicrobia. Decreased total abundance of these taxa was associated with higher Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale scores (r = -0.387, p = .035). In this exploratory study, measures of overall microbial diversity were similar among individuals with PTSD and TE controls; however, decreased total abundance of Actinobacteria, Lentisphaerae, and Verrucomicrobia was associated with PTSD status.

Twelve years of rabies surveillance in Sri Lanka, 1999-2010.

PubMed

Karunanayake, Dushantha; Matsumoto, Takashi; Wimalaratne, Omala; Nanayakkara, Susilakanthi; Perera, Devika; Nishizono, Akira; Ahmed, Kamruddin

2014-10-01

Rabies is endemic in Sri Lanka, but little is known about the temporal and spatial trends of rabies in this country. Knowing these trends may provide insight into past control efforts and serve as the basis for future control measures. In this study, we analyzed distribution of rabies in humans and animals over a period of 12 years in Sri Lanka. Accumulated data from 1999 through 2010 compiled by the Department of Rabies Diagnosis and Research, Medical Research Institute (MRI), Colombo, were used in this study. The yearly mean percentage of rabies-positive sample was 62.4% (47.6-75.9%). Three-fourths of the rabies-positive samples were from the Colombo, Gampaha, and Kalutara districts in Western province, followed by Galle in Southern province. A high percentage of the rabies samples were from dogs (85.2%), followed by cats (7.9%), humans (3.8%), wild animals (2.0%), and livestock (1.1%). Among wild animals, mongooses were the main victims followed by civets. The number of suspect human rabies cases decreased gradually in Sri Lanka, although the number of human samples submitted for laboratory confirmation increased. The number of rabid dogs has remained relatively unchanged, but the number of suspect human rabies is decreasing gradually in Sri Lanka. These findings indicate successful use of postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) by animal bite victims and increased rabies awareness. PEP is free of charge and is supplied through government hospitals by the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka. Our survey shows that most positive samples were received from Western and Southern provinces, possibly because of the ease of transporting samples to the laboratory. Submissions of wild animal and livestock samples should be increased by creating more awareness among the public. Better rabies surveillance will require introduction of molecular methods for detection and the establishment of more regional rabies diagnostic laboratories.

Twelve Years of Rabies Surveillance in Sri Lanka, 1999–2010

PubMed Central

Karunanayake, Dushantha; Matsumoto, Takashi; Wimalaratne, Omala; Nanayakkara, Susilakanthi; Perera, Devika; Nishizono, Akira; Ahmed, Kamruddin

2014-01-01

Background Rabies is endemic in Sri Lanka, but little is known about the temporal and spatial trends of rabies in this country. Knowing these trends may provide insight into past control efforts and serve as the basis for future control measures. In this study, we analyzed distribution of rabies in humans and animals over a period of 12 years in Sri Lanka. Methods Accumulated data from 1999 through 2010 compiled by the Department of Rabies Diagnosis and Research, Medical Research Institute (MRI), Colombo, were used in this study. Results The yearly mean percentage of rabies-positive sample was 62.4% (47.6–75.9%). Three-fourths of the rabies-positive samples were from the Colombo, Gampaha, and Kalutara districts in Western province, followed by Galle in Southern province. A high percentage of the rabies samples were from dogs (85.2%), followed by cats (7.9%), humans (3.8%), wild animals (2.0%), and livestock (1.1%). Among wild animals, mongooses were the main victims followed by civets. The number of suspect human rabies cases decreased gradually in Sri Lanka, although the number of human samples submitted for laboratory confirmation increased. Conclusions The number of rabid dogs has remained relatively unchanged, but the number of suspect human rabies is decreasing gradually in Sri Lanka. These findings indicate successful use of postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) by animal bite victims and increased rabies awareness. PEP is free of charge and is supplied through government hospitals by the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka. Our survey shows that most positive samples were received from Western and Southern provinces, possibly because of the ease of transporting samples to the laboratory. Submissions of wild animal and livestock samples should be increased by creating more awareness among the public. Better rabies surveillance will require introduction of molecular methods for detection and the establishment of more regional rabies diagnostic laboratories. PMID:25299511

Efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing on the phantom limb pain of patients with amputations within a 24-month follow-up.

PubMed

Rostaminejad, Akbar; Behnammoghadam, Mohammad; Rostaminejad, Marzieh; Behnammoghadam, Zargham; Bashti, Somaye

2017-09-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) on the phantom limb pain (PLP) of patients with amputations within a 24-month follow-up. This study was a randomized-controlled trial. A total of 60 patients with amputations were selected by a purposive sampling and patients were divided randomly into two experimental and control groups. Samples were assigned through randomized allocation. EMDR therapy was administered individually to the experimental group participants in 12 one-hour sessions over a 1-month period In each session, the patient completed the Subjective Units of Distress Scale and a pain-rating scale before and after the intervention. Follow-up measures were obtained 24 months later for the experimental group. The participants in the control group were measured on the two scales at an initial session and again after 1- and 24-month follow-up. The mean PLP decreased in the experimental group between the first and last sessions and remained so at a 24-month follow-up. No decrease occurred for the control group over the 1- and 24-month period. The differences were statistically significant (P<0.001) according to a repeated-measures analysis of variance. EMDR therapy proved to be a successful treatment for PLP. Because of its efficacy and the fact that the positive effects were maintained at the 24-month follow-up, this therapy is recommended for the treatment of PLP.

Motor Behavior Reflects Reduced Hemispheric Asymmetry in the Psychosis Risk Period

PubMed Central

Dean, Derek J.; Orr, Joseph M.; Newberry, Raeana E.; Mittal, Vijay A.

2015-01-01

Background A body of work focusing on brain connectivity, language dominance, and motor laterality research suggests reduced hemispheric asymmetry is a core feature in schizophrenia. However, there is little consensus about whether reduced dominance is present in those at ultrahigh risk (UHR) for psychosis. Methods A total of 94 demonstrated right-handed neuroleptic free participants (38 UHR and 56 matched healthy controls) were assessed with structured clinical interviews and completed an innovative handwriting task using a digital tablet computer. A laterality quotient (LQ) was calculated using kinematic variables from the participant’s left and right hands. A subset of the sample (26 UHR and 29 controls) returned after 12-months to complete clinical interviews in order to examine relationships between handwriting laterality and progression of psychosis risk symptoms. Results The UHR group showed decreased dextrality compared to healthy controls. At the 12-month follow-up, decreased dextrality accounted for 8% of the variance in worsened positive symptoms within the UHR group. Conclusion The current results suggest that disrupted cerebral dominance is also present in the ultrahigh risk period and that decreased dextrality may serve as a novel biomarker for the progression of psychosis risk. PMID:26492987

Work-related symptoms and dose-response relationships for personal exposures and pulmonary function among woodworkers.

PubMed

Mandryk, J; Alwis, K U; Hocking, A D

1999-05-01

Four sawmills, a wood chipping mill, and five joineries in New South Wales, Australia, were studied for the effects of personal exposure to wood dust, endotoxins. (1-->3)-beta-D-glucans, Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi on lung function among woodworkers. Personal inhalable and respirable dust sampling was carried out. The lung function tests of workers were conducted before and after a workshift. The mean percentage cross-shift decrease in lung function was markedly high for woodworkers compared with the controls. Dose-response relationships among personal exposures and percentage cross-shift decrease in lung function and percentage predicted lung function were more pronounced among joinery workers compared with sawmill and chip mill workers. Woodworkers had markedly high prevalence of regular cough, phlegm, and chronic bronchitis compared with controls. Significant associations were found between percentage cross-shift decrease in FVC and regular phlegm and blocked nose among sawmill and chip mill workers. Both joinery workers and sawmill and chip mill workers showed significant relationships between percentage predicted lung function (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, FEF25-75%) and respiratory symptoms. Wood dust and biohazards associated with wood dust are potential health hazards and should be controlled.

Sensitivity Analysis of Sampling Number on Quality of Polarmetric Measurements from S-band Dual-Polarization Radar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

KIM, H.; Suk, M. K.; Jung, S. A.; Park, J. S.; Ko, J. S.

2016-12-01

The data quality of dual-polarimetric weather radar is subject to radar scanning strategies such as pulse length, pulse repetition frequency (PRF), antenna scan speed, and sampling number. In terms of sampling number, the quality of radar moment data increases with the increasing of sampling number at the given PRF and pulse length while the feasible number of elevation angles decreases for the given time or the time required for radar volume scan increases with the relatively high sampling number. For operational weather radar, the sampling number is subjectively determined by the proficient radar operator. The determination of suitable sampling number is still challengeable for operational dual-polarimetric weather radar.In this study, we analyzed the sensitivity of polarimetric measurements to sampling number based on special radar experiment for rainfall and snowfall events using S-band dual-polarimetric radar (YIT) at Yong-In test bed. For this experiment, YIT radar transmitted a simultaneously polarized beam in horizontal and vertical with pulse length of 1.0 μs and single PRF of 600Hz. The beam width and gate size were 1.0° and 250m, respectively. The volume scan was composed of three PPI scans with three sampling numbers (antenna scan speed) of 40 (15°s-1), 60(10°s-1), and 85(7°s-1) at same elevation angle (=0.2°). We first investigated the spatial fluctuation of the polarimetric measurements according to three sampling numbers using radial texture. As the sampling number increases, the radial fluctuations of polarimetric measurements decrease. Second, we also examined the sensitivity to fuzzy logic based quality control algorithm for dual-polarimetric radar (Ye et al. 2015). The probability density functions (PDFs) of fuzzy logic feature parameters between ground clutter and meteorological echo area were compared. For overlapping area in both PDFs between ground clutter and meteorological echo increases with decreasing the sampling number. As the overlapping area increases, the classification of ground clutter (or meteorological echo) in fuzzy logic classifier is more difficult due to similar characteristics between ground clutter and meteorological echoes.

The influence of microgravity and spaceflight on columella cell ultrastructure in starch-deficient mutants of Arabidopsis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Guisinger, M. M.; Kiss, J. Z.

1999-01-01

The ultrastructure of root cap columella cells was studied by morphometric analysis in wild-type, a reduced-starch mutant, and a starchless mutant of Arabidopsis grown in microgravity (F-microgravity) and compared to ground 1g (G-1g) and flight 1g (F-1g) controls. Seedlings of the wild-type and reduced-starch mutant that developed during an experiment on the Space Shuttle (both the F-microgravity samples and the F-lg control) exhibited a decreased starch content in comparison to the G-1g control. These results suggest that some factor associated with spaceflight (and not microgravity per se) affects starch metabolism. Elevated levels of ethylene were found during the experiments on the Space Shuttle, and analysis of ground controls with added ethylene demonstrated that this gas was responsible for decreased starch levels in the columella cells. This is the first study to use an on-board centrifuge as a control when quantifying starch in spaceflight-grown plants. Furthermore, our results show that ethylene levels must be carefully considered and controlled when designing experiments with plants for the International Space Station.

Properties of microcement mortar with nano particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alimeneti, Narasimha Reddy

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) and Carbon nanofibers (CNF) are one of the toughest and stiffest materials in the world presently with extreme properties yet to be discovered in terms of elastic modulus and tensile strength. Due to the advanced properties of these materials they are being used in almost all fields of science at nanolevel and are being used in construction industry recently for improvement of material properties. Microcement is fine ground cement which as half the particle size of ordinary Portland cement. In this research the behavior of cement mortar of micro cement with the addition of nanoparticles is studied. Due to high aspect ratio and strong van der Waal forces between the particles of CNT and CNF, they agglomerate and form bundles when mixed with water, sonication method is used to mix nanoparticles with few drops of surfactant and super plasticizer. Mechanical properties such as compressive strength and flexural strength with CNT and CNF composites are examined and compared with control samples. 0.1% and 0.05 % of nanoparticles (both CNT and CNF) by the weight of cement are used in this research and 0.8% of super plasticizer by weight of cement was also used along with 0.4, 0.45 and 0.50 water cement ratios for making specimens for compression test. The compressive strength results are not satisfactory as there was no constant increase in strength with all the composites, however strength of few nanocomposites increased by a good percentage. 0.5 water cement ratio cement mortar had compressive strength of 7.15 ksi (49.3 MPa), whereas sample with 0.1% CNT showed 8.38 ksi (57.8 MPa) with 17% increase in strength after 28 days. Same trend was followed by 0.4 water cement ratio as the compressive strength of control sample was 8.89 ksi (61.3 MPa), with 0.05% of CNT strength increased to 10.90 ksi (75.2 MPa) with 23% increase in strength. 0.4 water cement ratio was used for flexural tests including 0.1%, 0.05% of CNT and 0.1%, 0.05% of CNF with 0.008 ratio of super plasticizer. Results showed that there was a significant increase in strength initially but gradually decreased as the time increase and showed decreased strength at 28 days when compared to control samples. Flow cone results are quite satisfying as the flow is significantly increased with the addition of nanoparticles. Time of efflux of control sample is 16.22 sec whereas for specimen with CNT had a time of efflux 12.67 sec and sample with CNF showed 13.65 seconds. Setting time test was carried on 0.4 water cement ratio. Composites with nanoparticles exhibited faster setting when compared to its control sample. Bleeding was not observed with the nanoparticles in the cement mortar. Shrinkage test was conducted on sample with 0.4 water cement ratio with 0.05% of CNT and CNF. Shrinkage was very small in the samples with nanoparticles.

Nitrogen Removal from Micro-Polluted Reservoir Water by Indigenous Aerobic Denitrifiers

PubMed Central

Huang, Ting-Lin; Zhou, Shi-Lei; Zhang, Hai-Han; Zhou, Na; Guo, Lin; Di, Shi-Yu; Zhou, Zi-Zhen

2015-01-01

Treatment of micro-polluted source water is receiving increasing attention because of environmental awareness on a global level. We isolated and identified aerobic denitrifying bacteria Zoogloea sp. N299, Acinetobacter sp. G107, and Acinetobacter sp. 81Y and used these to remediate samples of their native source water. We first domesticated the isolated strains in the source water, and the 48-h nitrate removal rates of strains N299, G107, and 81Y reached 33.69%, 28.28%, and 22.86%, respectively, with no nitrite accumulation. We then conducted a source-water remediation experiment and cultured the domesticated strains (each at a dry cell weight concentration of 0.4 ppm) together in a sample of source water at 20–26 °C and a dissolved oxygen concentration of 3–7 mg/L for 60 days. The nitrate concentration of the system decreased from 1.57 ± 0.02 to 0.42 ± 0.01 mg/L and that of a control system decreased from 1.63 ± 0.02 to 1.30 ± 0.01 mg/L, each with no nitrite accumulation. Total nitrogen of the bacterial system changed from 2.31 ± 0.12 to 1.09 ± 0.01 mg/L, while that of the control system changed from 2.51 ± 0.13 to 1.72 ± 0.06 mg/L. The densities of aerobic denitrification bacteria in the experimental and control systems ranged from 2.8 × 104 to 2 × 107 cfu/mL and from 7.75 × 103 to 5.5 × 105 cfu/mL, respectively. The permanganate index in the experimental and control systems decreased from 5.94 ± 0.12 to 3.10 ± 0.08 mg/L and from 6.02 ± 0.13 to 3.61 ± 0.11 mg/L, respectively, over the course of the experiment. Next, we supplemented samples of the experimental and control systems with additional bacteria or additional source water and cultivated the systems for another 35 days. The additional bacteria did little to improve the water quality. The additional source water provided supplemental carbon and brought the nitrate removal rate in the experimental system to 16.97%, while that in the control system reached only 3.01%, with no nitrite accumulation in either system. Our results show that aerobic denitrifying bacteria remain highly active after domestication and demonstrate the applicability of such organisms in the bioremediation of oligotrophic ecosystems. PMID:25867475

Pigeon peas as a supplement for lactating dairy cows fed corn silage-based diets.

PubMed

Corriher, V A; Hill, G M; Bernard, J K; Jenkins, T C; West, J W; Mullinix, B G

2010-11-01

Holstein rumen-cannulated cows [n=7; initial body weight (BW) 640.56±71.43 kg] were fed a corn silage basal diet with 1 of 3 concentrates (C=control; P10=10% pigeon peas; P20=20% pigeon peas). Cows were randomly assigned to treatments in a replicated 3×3 Latin square and individually fed using Calan gates. Each experimental period was 21 d with 7 d for adaption and 14 d for sample collection. Ruminal fluid samples were taken the last day of each experimental period and analyzed for pH, ammonia, long-chain fatty acids, and volatile fatty acids (VFA). Consecutive a.m. and p.m. milk samples were taken during the last 2 wk of the 21-d period and analyzed for fat, protein, long-chain fatty acids, and somatic cell count. Dry matter intake (kg/d) was reduced during the second period and was greater for P10 diets. Milk protein was greater for cows fed P20 compared with P10. Energy-corrected milk was greater for cows fed the control diet compared with P10. Treatment had no effect on milk yield. Ruminal fluid pH decreased over sampling times; however, pH remained at or above 5.5. Diets did not affect ruminal fluid pH; however, pH was different for sampling periods. Ruminal ammonia decreased until 8h postfeeding at which time it peaked consistent with changes in ammonia concentrations that usually peak 3 to 5h postfeeding on diets high in plant proteins. Dietary treatments altered ruminal fluid VFA with reduced concentrations of acetate and greater concentrations of propionate for control diet, resulting in reduced acetate:propionate ratio. Isobutyrate exhibited an hour by treatment interaction, in which isobutyrate decreased until 8h postfeeding and then tended to be greater for P10 than for other treatments. Animals fed the P10 diet had greater concentrations of ruminal isovalerate. Ruminal cis-9,trans-11 and trans-10,cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers were not affected by dietary treatments. The P10 diet had greatest ruminal synthesis of cis-9,trans-11, but control cows had greatest ruminal synthesis of trans-10,cis-12. Milk CLA isomers were similar among treatments. Trends were observed for greater cis-9,trans-11 and trans-10,cis-12 for the P10 diet. Pigeon peas may be used as a protein supplement in dairy diets without affecting milk production, dry matter intake, or ruminal environment when they replace corn and soybean meal. Copyright © 2010 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Persistence of Immunity Acquired after a Single Dose of Rubella Vaccine in Japan.

PubMed

Okafuji, Takao; Okafuji, Teruo; Nakayama, Tetsuo

2016-05-20

To date, Takahashi, Matsuura, and TO-336 strains of live-attenuated rubella vaccine have been used in Japan. Japan implemented a single-dose rubella vaccination program until 2006. However, few reports are available on the persistence of immunity after this vaccination program. We collected 276 serum samples from January 2009 to December 2011 at Okafuji Pediatric Clinic and assessed the immune status of these samples against rubella virus during 1-10 years after vaccination with a single dose of Takahashi rubella vaccine. Regional outbreak of rubella did not occur during 1999-2011. The collected serum samples were tested for antibodies against the rubella virus by performing a standard hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) test. Our results showed that all the tested serum samples contained antibodies against the rubella virus 10 years after the vaccination. Geometric mean titer of HAI antibodies was 1:180 and decreased to 1:68 at 10 years after the vaccination. The levels of HAI antibodies decreased logarithmically with time after the vaccination. In conclusion, vaccine-acquired immunity after vaccination with a single dose of live-attenuated Takahashi rubella vaccine was retained for at least 10 years when rubella was under regional control.

Assessing total and volatile solids in municipal solid waste samples.

PubMed

Peces, M; Astals, S; Mata-Alvarez, J

2014-01-01

Municipal solid waste is broadly generated in everyday activities and its treatment is a global challenge. Total solids (TS) and volatile solids (VS) are typical control parameters measured in biological treatments. In this study, the TS and VS were determined using the standard methods, as well as introducing some variants: (i) the drying temperature for the TS assays was 105°C, 70°C and 50°C and (ii) the VS were determined using different heating ramps from room tempature to 550°C. TS could be determined at either 105°C or 70°C, but oven residence time was tripled at 70°C, increasing from 48 to 144 h. The VS could be determined by smouldering the sample (where the sample is burnt without a flame), which avoids the release of fumes and odours in the laboratory. However, smouldering can generate undesired pyrolysis products as a consequence of carbonization, which leads to VS being underestimated. Carbonization can be avoided using slow heating ramps to prevent the oxygen limitation. Furthermore, crushing the sample cores decreased the time to reach constant weight and decreased the potential to underestimate VS.

Does Addition of Propolis to Glass Ionomer Cement Alter its Physicomechanical Properties? An in Vitro Study.

PubMed

Subramaniam, P; Girish Babu, K L; Neeraja, G; Pillai, S

Propolis is a natural resinous substance produced by honey bees. The antimicrobial effects of glass ionomer cement have been shown to improve with the addition of propolis; however its effect on the physicomechanical properties of the cement is not known. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the compressive strength and solubility of conventional restorative glass ionomer cement following the addition of propolis. Twenty half cylindrical samples were prepared with conventional restorative glass ionomer cement formed the control group. Another twenty samples were prepared with propolis added to conventional restorative glass ionomer cement formed the experimental group. The compressive strength was assessed using universal testing machine. To assess solubility, the samples were immersed in deionised water at room temperature, for 7 days. The solubility was measured as a difference in the weight of the sample; prior to immersion and following immersion at the end of each day. The control group had a significantly higher mean compressive strength of 146.26 Mpa as compared to the experimental group (135.06 Mpa). The solubility between the groups was significant. In comparison to the control group, incorporation of propolis to conventional restorative glass ionomer cement decreased the compressive strength significantly. The solubility of the cement in the experimental group increased significantly over 7day period as compared to the control group.

Does Addition of Propolis to Glass Ionomer Cement Alter its Physicomechanical Properties? An In Vitro Study.

PubMed

Subramaniam, P; Girish Babu, K L; Neeraja, G; Pillai, S

Propolis is a natural resinous substance produced by honey bees. The antimicrobial effects of glass ionomer cement have been shown to improve with the addition of propolis; however its effect on the physicomechanical properties of the cement is not known. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the compressive strength and solubility of conventional restorative glass ionomer cement following the addition of propolis. Twenty half cylindrical samples were prepared with conventional restorative glass ionomer cement formed the control group. Another twenty samples were prepared with propolis added to conventional restorative glass ionomer cement formed the experimental group. The compressive strength was assessed using universal testing machine. To assess solubility, the samples were immersed in deionised water at room temperature, for 7 days. The solubility was measured as a difference in the weight of the sample; prior to immersion and following immersion at the end of each day. The control group had a significantly higher mean compressive strength of 146.26 Mpa as compared to the experimental group (135.06 Mpa). The solubility between the groups was significant. In comparison to the control group, incorporation of propolis to conventional restorative glass ionomer cement decreased the compressive strength significantly. The solubility of the cement in the experimental group increased significantly over 7day period as compared to the control group.

Yoga- and meditation-based lifestyle intervention increases neuroplasticity and reduces severity of major depressive disorder: A randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Tolahunase, Madhuri R; Sagar, Rajesh; Faiq, Muneeb; Dada, Rima

2018-01-01

Current interventions for major depressive disorder (MDD) are suboptimal, and only one third respond to them on initial treatment. Neuroplasticity theories are the basis for several emerging treatments. Evidence on the impact of yoga, a well-known mind-body intervention, on neuroplasticity in MDD is limited. To determine the effects of 12-week yoga- and meditation-based lifestyle intervention (YMLI) on depression severity and systemic biomarkers of neuroplasticity in adult MDD patients on routine drug treatment. A total of 58 MDD patients were randomized into yoga or control group. The severity of depression was assessed with Beck Depression Inventory-II scale (BDI-II). Blood samples were collected before and after intervention for the measurement of the biomarkers that characterize neuroplasticity, including mind-body communicative and cellular health biomarkers. There was a significant decrease [difference between means, (95% CI)] in BDI-II score [-5.83 (-7.27, -4.39), p < 0.001] and significant increase in BDNF (ng/ml) [5.48 (3.50, 7.46), p < 0.001] after YMLI compared to control group. YMLI significantly increased DHEAS, sirtuin 1, and telomerase activity levels, and decreased cortisol, and IL-6 levels, in addition to decreasing DNA damage and balancing oxidative stress. Multiple regression analyses were used to associate neuroplasticity biomarkers with depression severity. A 'post-intervention change in BDNF' x 'group' interaction indicated that yoga group had more BDNF in association with less BDI-II scores relative to controls. Increased sirtuin 1 and telomerase activity and decreased cortisol significantly predicted this association (all p < 0.05). These results suggest that decrease in depression severity after YMLI in MDD is associated with improved systemic biomarkers of neuroplasticity. Thus YMLI can be considered as a therapeutic intervention in MDD management.

Changes in Quality Characteristics of Pork Patties Containing Multilayered Fish Oil Emulsion during Refrigerated Storage

PubMed Central

Jo, Yeon-Ji; Kwon, Yun-Joong; Min, Sang-Gi

2015-01-01

This study was performed to determine the effect of multilayered fish oil (FO) emulsion without or with trans-cinnamaldehyde on pork patties. Multilayered FO (-primary, -secondary, -tertiary) emulsions were prepared using a layer-by-layer deposition technique with Tween 20, chitosan, and low methoxyl pectin, and were added to pork patties at the same concentration. Pork patties were then stored for 20 d in a refrigerator (5℃) to study changes in quality. The results showed that the pH value of all samples significantly decreased but cooking loss increased during storage (p<0.05). However, water-holding capacity and moisture content showed no remarkable difference between treatments and storage periods (p>0.05). All pork patties containing multilayered FO (treated samples) showed higher values for lightness and significantly lower values for yellowness compared to control pork patties (untreated sample). Lipid oxidation was higher in treated pork patties than in control pork patties during storage. In addition, lipid oxidation and total viable bacterial count in pork patties decreased as the number of coating layers increased. However, hardness, cohesiveness, and springiness of all samples showed no significant change during storage (p>0.05) as compared to fresh pork patties. Furthermore, these did not remarkable change with addition of trans-cinnamaldehyde in all pork patties. From our results, we suggest that FO emulsion did not affect the texture characteristics of fresh pork patties, indicating that it could be used to improve the quality of pork patties by contributing high-quality fat such as unsaturated fatty acids. PMID:26761802

Breast-feeding history and overweight in Latino preschoolers.

PubMed

Kersey, Margaret; Lipton, Rebecca; Sanchez-Rosado, Monica; Kumar, Jessica; Thisted, Ronald; Lantos, John D

2005-01-01

Describe the relationship between breast-feeding history and risk of overweight in the preschool years in a sample of primarily Mexican-origin Latinos. Children's breast-feeding history, health history, and demographics were obtained in interviewer-administered questionnaires of a convenience sample of 364 parents of children ages 2-5 in an outpatient clinic waiting room serving a predominantly Mexican immigrant population in a large Midwestern city. Child weight status was determined by weighing and measuring each child and calculating age- and sex-specific body mass index (BMI) percentile using 2000 Centers for Disease Control reference values, with children > or =95th percentile defined as overweight. Seventy-six of 364 children (21%) were overweight. Eighty-seven percent of children had been breast-fed. Increased duration of breast-feeding was associated with a linearly decreased risk of overweight in bivariate analysis, ranging from an overweight prevalence of 35% for those never breast-fed to 12% for those breast-fed for at least a year. This inverse relationship remained significant in the smaller sample for which maternal BMI data were available (n = 127), as each additional month of breast-feeding was associated with a 10% decreased odds ratio (OR) of overweight (adjusted OR = 0.90; 95% CI = 0.81, 0.99) after controlling for child's sex, current age, prematurity, birth-weight category, maternal education level, and maternal weight status. This sample of children of Mexican-origin immigrant families had high rates of overweight at very young ages but also very high rates of breast-feeding. Duration of breast-feeding was strongly and inversely related with prevalence of overweight as a preschooler.

Frequency of Sex after an Intervention to Decrease Sexual Risk-Taking among African-American Adolescent Girls: Results of a Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Milhausen, Robin R.; DiClemente, Ralph J.; Lang, Delia L.; Spitalnick, Josh S.; Sales, Jessica McDermott; Hardin, James W.

2008-01-01

Many controversies surround sex education in the United States. One particular issue of contention is whether comprehensive sexuality education increases frequency of sexual intercourse among program participants. The current investigation examined frequency of vaginal sexual intercourse in a sample of 522 sexually experienced African-American…

Hand Hygiene Program Decreases School Absenteeism Due to Upper Respiratory Infections

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Azor-Martinez, Ernestina; Cobos-Carrascosa, Elena; Seijas-Vazquez, Maria Luisa; Fernández-Sánchez, Carmen; Strizzi, Jenna M.; Torres-Alegre, Pilar; Santisteban-Martínez, Joaquin; Gimenez-Sanchez, Francisco

2016-01-01

Background: We assessed the effectiveness of a handwashing program using hand sanitizer to prevent school absenteeism due to upper respiratory infections (URIs). Methods: This was a randomized, controlled, and open study on a sample of 1341 children 4-12 years old, attending 5 state schools in Almería (Spain), with an 8-month follow-up. The…

Brassica cover crops for nitrogen retention in the Mid-Atlantic coastal plain.

PubMed

Dean, Jill E; Weil, Ray R

2009-01-01

Brassica cover crops are new to the mid-Atlantic region, and limited information is available on their N uptake capabilities for effective N conservation. Forage radish (Raphanus sativus L. cv. Daikon), oilseed radish (Raphanus sativus L. cv. Adagio), and rape (Brassica napus L. cv. Dwarf Essex) were compared with rye (Secale cereale L. cv. Wheeler), a popular cover crop in the region, with regard to N uptake ability and potential to decrease N leaching at two sites in Maryland. Plants were harvested in fall and spring for dry matter and N analysis. Soil samples from 0 cm to 105 to 180 cm depth were obtained in fall and spring for NH(4)-N and NO(3)-N analyses. Ceramic cup tension lysimeters were installed at depths of 75 to 120 cm to monitor NO(3)-N in soil pore water. Averaged across 3 site-years, forage radish and rape shoots had greater dry matter production and captured more N in fall than rye shoots. Compared with a weedy fallow control, rape and rye caused similar decreases in soil NO(3)-N in fall and spring throughout the sampled profile. Cover crops had no effect on soil NH(4)-N. During the spring on coarse textured soil, pore water NO(3)-N concentrations in freeze-killed Brassica (radish) plots were greater than in control and overwintering Brassica (rape) and rye plots. On fine textured soil, all cover crops provided a similar decrease in pore water NO(3)-N concentration compared with control. On coarse textured soils, freeze-killed Brassica cover crops should be followed by an early-planted spring main crop.

Protective effect of curcumin on lead acetate-induced testicular toxicity in Wistar rats.

PubMed

Sudjarwo, Sri Agus; Sudjarwo, Giftania Wardani; Koerniasari

2017-10-01

In recent years, the use of the antioxidant in reducing heavy metal toxicities has increased worldwide. Curcumin has been reported to have a strong antioxidant activity. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of curcumin on lead acetate-induced testicular damage in rats. The sample used 40 male rats divided into 5 groups: negative control (rats were given daily with corn oil); positive control (rats were given daily with lead acetate 50 mg/kg BW orally once in a day for 35 days); and the treatment group (rats were given the curcumin 100 mg, 200 mg, and 400 mg/kg BW orally once in a day for 40 days, and on the 5 th day, were given lead acetate 50 mg/kg BW one h after the curcumin administration). After 40 days, levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in testicular tissue, and sperm count, motility and viability in the epididymis were measured in rats. Testis samples were also collected for histopathological studies. Results showed that lead acetate administration significantly decreased the SOD, GPx, and increased MDA levels. Lead acetate also decreased the sperm count, motility, viability, and altered histopathological testis (testicular damage, necrosis of seminiferous tubules and loss of spermatid) compared to the negative control. However, administration of curcumin significantly improved the histopathological in testis, increased the sperm count, motility, viability, and also significantly increased the SOD, GPx, and decreased MDA in testis of lead acetate-treated rats. From the results of this study we concluded that the curcumin could be a potent natural product provide a promising protective effect against lead acetate induced testicular toxicity in rats.

Protective effect of curcumin on lead acetate-induced testicular toxicity in Wistar rats

PubMed Central

Sudjarwo, Sri Agus; Sudjarwo, Giftania Wardani; Koerniasari

2017-01-01

In recent years, the use of the antioxidant in reducing heavy metal toxicities has increased worldwide. Curcumin has been reported to have a strong antioxidant activity. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of curcumin on lead acetate-induced testicular damage in rats. The sample used 40 male rats divided into 5 groups: negative control (rats were given daily with corn oil); positive control (rats were given daily with lead acetate 50 mg/kg BW orally once in a day for 35 days); and the treatment group (rats were given the curcumin 100 mg, 200 mg, and 400 mg/kg BW orally once in a day for 40 days, and on the 5th day, were given lead acetate 50 mg/kg BW one h after the curcumin administration). After 40 days, levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in testicular tissue, and sperm count, motility and viability in the epididymis were measured in rats. Testis samples were also collected for histopathological studies. Results showed that lead acetate administration significantly decreased the SOD, GPx, and increased MDA levels. Lead acetate also decreased the sperm count, motility, viability, and altered histopathological testis (testicular damage, necrosis of seminiferous tubules and loss of spermatid) compared to the negative control. However, administration of curcumin significantly improved the histopathological in testis, increased the sperm count, motility, viability, and also significantly increased the SOD, GPx, and decreased MDA in testis of lead acetate-treated rats. From the results of this study we concluded that the curcumin could be a potent natural product provide a promising protective effect against lead acetate induced testicular toxicity in rats. PMID:28974976

Laryngospasm during emergency department ketamine sedation: a case-control study.

PubMed

Green, Steven M; Roback, Mark G; Krauss, Baruch

2010-11-01

The objective of this study was to assess predictors of emergency department (ED) ketamine-associated laryngospasm using case-control techniques. We performed a matched case-control analysis of a sample of 8282 ED ketamine sedations (including 22 occurrences of laryngospasm) assembled from 32 prior published series. We sequentially studied the association of each of 7 clinical variables with laryngospasm by assigning 4 controls to each case while matching for the remaining 6 variables. We then used univariate statistics and conditional logistic regression to analyze the matched sets. We found no statistical association of age, dose, oropharyngeal procedure, underlying physical illness, route, or coadministered anticholinergics with laryngospasm. Coadministered benzodiazepines showed a borderline association in the multivariate but not univariate analysis that was considered anomalous. This case-control analysis of the largest available sample of ED ketamine-associated laryngospasm did not demonstrate evidence of association with age, dose, or other clinical factors. Such laryngospasm seems to be idiosyncratic, and accordingly, clinicians administering ketamine must be prepared for its rapid identification and management. Given no evidence that they decrease the risk of laryngospasm, coadministered anticholinergics seem unnecessary.

G-CSF-primed autologous and allogeneic bone marrow for transplantation in clinical oncology. Cell content and immunological characteristics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grivtsova, L. Yu; Melkova, K. N.; Kupryshkina, N. A.; Vorotnikov, I. K.; Grigoryeva, T. A.; Selchuk, V. Yu; Grebennikova, O. P.; Titova, G. V.; Tupitsyn, N. N.

2018-01-01

60 samples of G-CSF-primed bone marrow (39 cancer patients and 21 healthy donors) to be used for transplantation to cancer patients were analyzed and compared by main characteristics with historical control and 13 bone marrow samples from control patient with mastopathy. Basing on morphological and multicolor flow cytometry findings certain characteristics of G-CSF-primed bone marrow were discovered, such as a significant increase in blast count in cancer patients as compared to donors and control patients (p<0.037), a higher neutrophil maturation index (p<0.001) and a lower percentage of mature lymphocytes (p<0.008) as compared to the control group. Among lymphocyte populations G-CSF-priming was associated with a significant increase in the total of mature CD3+ T-cells and CD8+ T-killers (p<0.0001) and a decrease in CD56+CD3- and/or CD16+CD3- NK-cells (p<0.006) both in cancer patients and healthy donors in comparison with the controls.

On the Role of Mining Exposure in Epigenetic Effects in Parkinson's Disease.

PubMed

Castillo, Sebastian; Muñoz, Patricia; Behrens, Maria Isabel; Diaz-Grez, Fernando; Segura-Aguilar, Juan

2017-08-01

To explore the possible influence of heavy metal mining on incidence of Parkinson's disease (PD), global DNA methylation was assessed in blood samples from a population of PD patients (n = 45) and control subjects (n = 52) in Antofagasta neighborhood, a Chilean city built for exclusive use of mining companies. Comparisons were made with PD subjects (n = 52) and control subjects (n = 59) from Santiago Chile, a city having little association with mining. All subjects were assessed by two neurologists and PD diagnosis was based on UK Parkinson's Disease Society Brain Bank Clinical Diagnostic Criteria. From blood samples obtained from each individual, a decrease in global DNA methylation was observed in PD patients either exposed (49% of control, P < 0.001) or not exposed (47% of control, P < 0.001) to mining activity. Although there was no difference in levels of DNA methylation between PD patients from the two cities, there was a lower level of DNA methylation in control subjects from Santiago versus Antofagasta.

Care during freeze-drying of bovine pericardium tissue to be used as a biomaterial: a comparative study.

PubMed

Polak, Roberta; Pitombo, Ronaldo N M

2011-10-01

Bovine pericardium (BP) tissue is widely used in the manufacture of bioprosthetics. The effects of freeze-drying on the BP tissue have been studied by some researchers in order to decrease their cytotoxicity due to preservation in formaldehyde solution, and to increase the lifetime of the product in storage. This study was undertaken in order to study the effect of freeze-drying in the structure of BP. To perform this study BP samples were freeze-dried in two different types of freeze-dryers available in our laboratory: a laboratory freeze-dryer, in which it was not possible to control parameters and a pilot freeze-dryer, wherein all parameters during freezing and drying were controlled. After freeze-drying processes, samples were analyzed by SEM, Raman spectroscopy, tensile strength, water uptake tests and TEM. In summary, it has been demonstrated that damages occur in collagen fibers by the loss of bulk water of collagen structure implicating in a drastic decreasing of BP mechanical properties due to its structural alterations. Moreover, it was proven that the collagen fibrils suffered breakage at some points, which can be attributed to the uncontrolled parameters during drying. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Influence of sodium chloride on the colloidal and rennet coagulation properties of concentrated casein micelle suspensions.

PubMed

Zhao, Z; Corredig, M

2016-08-01

The research investigated the influence of NaCl on the colloidal and rennet coagulation properties of concentrated milk. Milk was concentrated to 1×, 3×, and 5× using ultrafiltration. Rennet gelation was followed by rheology and diffusing wave spectroscopy. Soluble protein, total and diffusible calcium and phosphate, size, and zeta potential were also measured as a function of concentration history. In the presence of 300mM NaCl, colloidal calcium phosphate solubilized and pH and the negative charge on the surface of casein micelles decreased. Increasing the volume fraction caused the formation of stiffer gels for both samples with or without NaCl. The addition of NaCl caused a significant increase in the bulk viscosity of the milk concentrated 5× and a decrease in turbidity. The concentration had no effect on the gelation time of control samples, nor on the kinetics of caseinomacropeptide release. On the other hand, rennet gelation was retarded by the addition of NaCl, and the gels showed lower elastic moduli compared with those obtained with control milk. Copyright © 2016 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Effect of Theory Based Nutritional Education on Fat Intake, Weight and Blood Lipids.

PubMed

Kamran, Aziz; Sharifirad, Gholamreza; Heydari, Heshmatolah; Sharifian, Elham

2016-12-01

Though Nutrition plays a key role in the control of hypertension, it is often forgotten in Iranian patients' diet. In fact, dietary behavior can be regarded as unsatisfactory among Iranian patients. This study was aimed to assess the effectiveness of theory based educational intervention on fat intake, weight, and blood lipids among rural hypertensive patients. This quasi experimental study was conducted on 138 hypertensive patients who had referred to Ardabil rural health centers during 2014. The nutritional education based on DASH and Health Promotion Model (HPM) was treated for six sessions. The pre-test and post-test had intervals of two and six months. Data were analyzed using SPSS-18 and Chi-square, independent-samples t-test, paired-samples t-test and repeated measure ANOVA. After treating intervention, weight, dietary fat, LDL_C and Total cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressures decreased significantly in the intervention group compared with the control group (p < 0.001). In contrast, HDL_C increased significantly in the intervention group. Educational intervention, provided based on Pender's health promotion model, affecting fat intake, blood lipids, and blood pressure, led to their decrease.

Short mandible - a possible risk factor for cleft palate with/without a cleft lip.

PubMed

Hermann, N V; Darvann, T A; Ersbøll, B K; Kreiborg, S

2014-05-01

To estimate the influence of a short mandible on the risk of developing a cleft palate with/without a cleft lip (CP). The retrospective sample consisted of 115 2-month-old Danish infants with CP, and 70 control infants with unilateral incomplete cleft lip (UICL). Cephalometric X-rays were obtained. Mandibular length (Lm ) was measured and corrected for body length (Lb ) to remove influence of varying body length in the sample. Logistic regression was applied to the corrected mandibular length (Lmc ) to calculate the risk of having a cleft palate. The mean mandibular length in the group with CP was about 4 mm shorter than in the control group. Odds ratio (OR) was calculated to be 0.58 (95% confidence interval 0.48-0.68), implying that an individual's risk of cleft palate with/without a cleft lip increases about 50% per mm decrease in mandibular length. A special facial type including a short mandible is a possible risk factor for cleft palate, and it was found that the risk of cleft palate increases 58% per mm decreases in mandibular length. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Inhibition of Sodium Benzoate on Stainless Steel in Tropical Seawater

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seoh, S. Y.; Senin, H. B.; Nik, W. N. Wan; Amin, M. M.

2007-05-01

The inhibition of sodium benzoate for stainless steel controlling corrosion was studied in seawater at room temperature. Three sets of sample have been immersed in seawater containing sodium benzoate with the concentrations of 0.3M, 0.6M and 1.0M respectively. One set of sample has been immersed in seawater without adding any sodium benzoate. It was found that the highest corrosion rate was observed for the stainless steel with no inhibitor was added to the seawater. As the concentration of sodium benzoate being increased, the corrosion rate is decreases. Results show that by the addition of 1.0M of sodium benzoate in seawater samples, it giving ≥ 90% efficiencies.

Elemental composition study of heavy metal (Ni, Cu, Zn) in riverbank soil by electrokinetic-assisted phytoremediation using XRF and SEM/EDX

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jamari, Suhailly; Embong, Zaidi; Bakar, Ismail

Electrokinetic (EK)-assisted phytoremediation is one of the methods that have a big potential in enhancing the ability of plant uptake in soils remediation process. This research was conducted to investigate the difference in elemental composition concentration of riverbank soil and the change of pH between pre- and post-phytoremediation under the following condition: 1) control or as-receive sample; 2) Dieffenbachia spp plant with EK system (a pair of EK electrodes connected to a direct current (DC) power supply). After the electrodes were connected to a magnitude of 6V/cm{sup −1} electric field for 4 hours/day, the soil and plant samples were analyzedmore » using and X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (XRF) and Scanning Electron Microscope / Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM/EDX). The SEM/EDX analysis showed that concentration of elemental composition (Ni, Cu and Zn) in post-phytoremediation plant powder samples had increase while elemental concentrations in the post-phytoremediation soil samples were decreased. XRF analysis presented a variation in soil elemental composition concentration from anode to cathode where the concentration near anode region increased while decreased near the cathode region. A significant changes in soil pH were obtained where the soil pH increase in cathode region while decrease in anode region. The results reveal that the assistance of EK in phytoremediation process has increase the efficiency of plant uptake.« less

Comparing the effect of clofibrate and phenobarbital on the newborns with hyperbilirubinemia

PubMed Central

Hamidi, Majid; Zamanzad, Behnam; Mesripour, Azadeh

2013-01-01

The aim of treating hyperbilirubinemia is preventing the serum bilirubin to reach neurotoxic levels, which is done by phototherapy or blood transfusion. However, pharmacological treatments still remain vague. Therefore the effects of adding either clofibrate or phenobarbital on treatment outcomes was evaluated in icteric non-hemolitic newborns. Ninety neonates were divided in three groups. Two groups were prescribed 100 mg/kg clofibrate or 5 mg/kg phenobarbital orally as single dose on arrival, in addition to phototherapy. The control group only received phototherapy. Serum bilirubin was evaluated at the reception and 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours after beginning of drug therapy. Total bilirubin levels decreased in treated groups compared with the control group in all samples taken (12, 24, 48 and 72 hours). Clofibrate effect in decreasing bilirubin level was more prominent (14 % and 32 % after 12 and 72 h respectively). In addition duration of hospitalization and length of phototherapy decreased in clofibrate and phenobarbital groups compared with control group (1.5, 2 days respectively, vs. 2.6 days). Therefore using clofibrate and phenobarbital in icteric neonates are supportive not only by decreasing the serum bilirubin level, but also by lessening the duration of hospitalization and phototherapy. Thus in addition to cost benefits for the patient these drugs can reduce the risks of transfusion, and clofibrate seems more promising in this regard. PMID:26417217

Dental and skeletal components of Class II open bite treatment with a modified Thurow appliance

PubMed Central

Jacob, Helder Baldi; dos Santos-Pinto, Ary; Buschang, Peter H.

2014-01-01

Introduction Due to the lack of studies that distinguish between dentoalveolar and basal changes caused by the Thurow appliance, this clinical study, carried out by the School of Dentistry - State University of São Paulo/Araraquara, aimed at assessing the dental and skeletal changes induced by modified Thurow appliance. Methods The sample included an experimental group comprising 13 subjects aged between 7 and 10 years old, with Class II malocclusion and anterior open bite, and a control group comprising 22 subjects similar in age, sex and mandibular plane angle. Maxillary/mandibular, horizontal/vertical, dental/skeletal movements (ANS, PNS, U1, U6, Co, Go, Pog, L1, L6) were assessed, based on 14 landmarks, 8 angles (S-N-ANS, SNA, PPA, S-N-Pog, SNB, MPA, PP/MPA, ANB) and 3 linear measures (N-Me, ANS-Me, S-Go). Results Treatment caused significantly greater angle decrease between the palatal and the mandibular plane of the experimental group, primarily due to an increase in the palatal plane angle. ANB, SNA and S-N-ANS angles significantly decreased more in patients from the experimental group. PNS was superiorly remodeled. Lower face height (ANS-Me) decreased in the experimental group and increased in the control group. Conclusions The modified Thurow appliance controlled vertical and horizontal displacements of the maxilla, rotated the maxilla and improved open bite malocclusion, decreasing lower facial height. PMID:24713556

Naringin protects against bone loss in steroid-treated inflammatory bowel disease in a rat model.

PubMed

Li, Chengli; Zhang, Jun; Lv, Fang; Ge, Xingtao; Li, Gang

2018-07-15

We observed the effects of naringin on bone loss in glucocorticoid-treated inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in a rat model. The IBD model was established in Sprague-Dawley rats by administering 5.0% dextran sodium sulfate. Dexamethasone (DEX) and naringin were given at the second week. Blood, colon and bone samples were collected for biomarker assay, histological analysis or microCT analysis. Superoxide dismutase, catalase and malonaldehyde were measured in bone. A significant decrease of procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP) level was observed in DEX-treated IBD groups compared with the control (p < 0.05). P1NP levels were dose-dependently increased in the presence of naringin intervention. Bone loss and decreased bone biomechanical properties were observed in DEX-treated IBD rats compared with control rats (p < 0.01). Naringin intervention protected against bone loss and decreased bone biomechanical properties. Bone formation related gene mRNA expressions were significantly decreased in DEX-treated IBD rats compared with control rats. Naringin administration reversed the down-regulation of the expressions of those genes. Naringin treatment reduced the oxidative stress in bone from DEX-treated IBD rats. Our data indicated that naringin may have great potential for the treatment of bone loss in glucocorticoid-treated IBD patients via blocking oxidative stress and promoting bone formation. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Buried structure for increasing fabrication performance of micromaterial by electromigration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kimura, Yasuhiro; Saka, Masumi

2016-06-01

The electromigration (EM) technique is a physical synthetic growth method for micro/nanomaterials. EM causes atomic diffusion in a metal line by high-density electron flows. The intentional control of accumulation and relaxation of atoms by EM can lead to the fabrication of a micro/nanomaterial. TiN passivation has been utilized as a component of sample in the EM technique. Although TiN passivation can simplify the cumbersome processes for preparing the sample, the leakage of current naturally occurs because of the conductivity of TiN as a side effect and decreases the performance of micro/nanomaterial fabrication. In the present work, we propose a buried structure, which contributes to significantly decreasing the current for fabricating an Al micromaterial by confining the current flow in the EM technique. The fabrication performance was evaluated based on the threshold current for fabricating an Al micromaterial using the buried structure and the previous structure with the leakage of current.

Effects of seawater and deionized water at 0 to 80 deg C on the flexural properties of a glass/epoxy composite

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Penn, B. G.; Daniels, J. G.; Ledbetter, F. E., III; Semmel, M. L.; Goldberg, B. G.; White, W. T.; Clemons, J. M.

1986-01-01

The effect on the flexural properties of a glass/epoxy composite of immersion in deionized water or seawater at 0, 25, and 80 C for 451 hr was examined. The percent weight gain at 0 and 25 C was low (0.06 to 0.17 percent) and there was no significant change in the flexural properties for these environmental conditions. At 80 C there was a decrease in the flexural strength of 17 and 20 percent in seawater and deionized water, respectively. This is a comparison to control samples exposed to 80 C heat alone. These decreases were found to be nearly reversible once the samples were dried. Optical microscopy did not reveal cracking of the matrix. The flexural modulus was essentially unaffected by exposure to deionized water and seawater at 80 C.

Propensity for intimate partner abuse and workplace productivity: why employers should care.

PubMed

Rothman, Emily F; Corso, Phaedra S

2008-09-01

It has been demonstrated that intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization is costly to employers, but little is known about the economic consequences associated with employing perpetrators. This study investigated propensity for partner abuse as a predictor of missed work time and on-the-job decreases in productivity among a small sample of male employees at a state agency (N=61). Results suggest that greater propensity for abusiveness is positively associated with missing work and experiencing worse productivity on the job, controlling for level of education, income, marital status, age, and part-time versus full-time employment status. Additional research could clarify whether IPV perpetration is a predictor of decreased productivity among larger samples and a wider variety of workplace settings. Employers and IPV advocates should consider responding to potential IPV perpetrators through the workplace in addition to developing victim-oriented policies and prevention initiatives.

Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes

PubMed Central

Michaliszyn, Sara Fleet; Faulkner, Melissa Spezia

2014-01-01

The purpose of this study was to describe the associations between levels of physical activity measured by accelerometry and changes in fitness, body composition, lipids, and glucose control (i.e., glycosolated hemoglobin [A1C]) in a sample of 16 adolescents with type 1 diabetes participating in a personalized exercise program. More sedentary activity was associated with lower fitness and fat free mass and increased total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c), and triglycerides (p < .05). Greater amounts of moderate to vigorous activity were associated with higher fitness and fat free mass, and decreased total cholesterol, LDL-c, triglycerides, and A1C (p < .05). Findings support the beneficial effects of increased moderate activity and decreased sedentary behavior to reduce cardiovascular risks and improve glucose control in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. PMID:20672318

Selenium Speciation and Management in Wet FGD Systems

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Searcy, K; Richardson, M; Blythe, G

2012-02-29

This report discusses results from bench- and pilot-scale simulation tests conducted to determine the factors that impact selenium speciation and phase partitioning in wet FGD systems. The selenium chemistry in wet FGD systems is highly complex and not completely understood, thus extrapolation and scale-up of these results may be uncertain. Control of operating parameters and application of scrubber additives have successfully demonstrated the avoidance or decrease of selenite oxidation at the bench and pilot scale. Ongoing efforts to improve sample handling methods for selenium speciation measurements are also discussed. Bench-scale scrubber tests explored the impacts of oxidation air rate, tracemore » metals, scrubber additives, and natural limestone on selenium speciation in synthetic and field-generated full-scale FGD liquors. The presence and concentration of redox-active chemical species as well as the oxidation air rate contribute to the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) conditions in FGD scrubbers. Selenite oxidation to the undesirable selenate form increases with increasing ORP conditions, and decreases with decreasing ORP conditions. Solid-phase manganese [Mn(IV)] appeared to be the significant metal impacting the oxidation of selenite to selenate. Scrubber additives were tested for their ability to inhibit selenite oxidation. Although dibasic acid and other scrubber additives showed promise in early clear liquor (sodium based and without calcium solids) bench-scale tests, these additives did not show strong inhibition of selenite oxidation in tests with higher manganese concentrations and with slurries from full-scale wet FGD systems. In bench-tests with field liquors, addition of ferric chloride at a 250:1 iron-to-selenium mass ratio sorbed all incoming selenite to the solid phase, although addition of ferric salts had no impact on native selenate that already existed in the field slurry liquor sample. As ORP increases, selenite may oxidize to selenate more rapidly than it sorbs to ferric solids. Though it was not possible to demonstrate a decrease in selenium concentrations to levels below the project'ale testing were evident at the pilot scale. Specifically, reducing oxidation air rate and ORP tends to either retain selenium as selenite in the liquor or shift selenium phase partitioning to the solid phase. Oxidation air flow rate control may be one option for managing selenium behavior in FGD scrubbers. Units that cycle load widely may find it more difficult to impact ORP conditions with oxidation air flow rate control alone. Because decreasing oxidation air rates to the reaction tank showed that all new selenium reported to the solids, the addition of ferric chloride to the pilot scrubber could not show further improvements in selenium behavior. Ferric chloride addition did shift mercury to the slurry solids, specifically to the fine particles. Several competing pathways may govern the reporting of selenium to the slurry solids: co-precipitation with gypsum into the bulk solids and sorption or co-precipitation with iron into the fine particles. Simultaneous measurement of selenium and mercury behavior suggests a holistic management strategy is best to optimize the fate of both of these elements in FGD waters. Work conducted under this project evaluated sample handling and analytical methods for selenium speciation in FGD waters. Three analytical techniques and several preservation methods were employed. Measurements of selenium speciation over time indicated that for accurate selenium speciation, it is best to conduct measurements on unpreserved, filtered samples as soon after sampling as possible. The capital and operating costs for two selenium management strategies were considered: ferric chloride addition and oxidation air flow rate control. For ferric chloride addition, as might be expected the reagent makeup costs dominate the overall costs, and range from 0.22 to 0.29 mills/kWh. For oxidation air flow rate control, a cursory comparison of capital costs and turndown capabilities for multi-stage and single-stage centrifugal blowers and several flow control methods was completed. For greenfield systems, changing the selection of blower type and flow control method may have payback periods of 4 to 5 years or more if based on energy savings alone. However, the benefits to managing redox chemistry in the scrubber could far outweigh the savings in electricity costs under some circumstances.« less

Quality control process improvement of flexible printed circuit board by FMEA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krasaephol, Siwaporn; Chutima, Parames

2018-02-01

This research focuses on the quality control process improvement of Flexible Printed Circuit Board (FPCB), centred around model 7-Flex, by using Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) method to decrease proportion of defective finished goods that are found at the final inspection process. Due to a number of defective units that were found at the final inspection process, high scraps may be escaped to customers. The problem comes from poor quality control process which is not efficient enough to filter defective products from in-process because there is no In-Process Quality Control (IPQC) or sampling inspection in the process. Therefore, the quality control process has to be improved by setting inspection gates and IPCQs at critical processes in order to filter the defective products. The critical processes are analysed by the FMEA method. IPQC is used for detecting defective products and reducing chances of defective finished goods escaped to the customers. Reducing proportion of defective finished goods also decreases scrap cost because finished goods incur higher scrap cost than work in-process. Moreover, defective products that are found during process can reflect the abnormal processes; therefore, engineers and operators should timely solve the problems. Improved quality control was implemented for 7-Flex production lines from July 2017 to September 2017. The result shows decreasing of the average proportion of defective finished goods and the average of Customer Manufacturers Lot Reject Rate (%LRR of CMs) equal to 4.5% and 4.1% respectively. Furthermore, cost saving of this quality control process equals to 100K Baht.

The change in prevalence of Campylobacter on chicken carcasses during processing: a systematic review.

PubMed

Guerin, M T; Sir, C; Sargeant, J M; Waddell, L; O'Connor, A M; Wills, R W; Bailey, R H; Byrd, J A

2010-05-01

A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the change in prevalence of Campylobacter on chicken carcasses during processing. A structured literature search of 8 electronic databases using the key words for "Campylobacter," "chicken," and "processing" identified 1,734 unique citations. Abstracts were screened for relevance by 2 independent reviewers. Thirty-two studies described prevalence at more than one stage during processing and were included in this review. Of the studies that described the prevalence of Campylobacter on carcasses before and after specific stages of processing, the chilling stage had the greatest number of studies (9), followed by washing (6), defeathering (4), scalding (2), and evisceration (1). Studies that sampled before and after scalding or chilling, or both, showed that the prevalence of Campylobacter generally decreased immediately after the stage (scalding: 20.0 to 40.0% decrease; chilling: 100.0% decrease to 26.6% increase). The prevalence of Campylobacter increased after defeathering (10.0 to 72.0%) and evisceration (15.0%). The prevalence after washing was inconsistent among studies (23.0% decrease to 13.3% increase). Eleven studies reported the concentration of Campylobacter, as well as, or instead of, the prevalence. Studies that sampled before and after specific stages of processing showed that the concentration of Campylobacter decreased after scalding (minimum decrease of 1.3 cfu/g, maximum decrease of 2.9 cfu/mL), evisceration (0.3 cfu/g), washing (minimum 0.3 cfu/mL, maximum 1.1 cfu/mL), and chilling (minimum 0.2 cfu/g, maximum 1.7 cfu/carcass) and increased after defeathering (minimum 0.4 cfu/g, maximum 2.9 cfu/mL). Available evidence is sparse and suggests more data are needed to understand the magnitude and mechanism by which the prevalence and concentration of Campylobacter changes during processing. This understanding should help researchers and program developers identify the most likely points in processing to implement effective control efforts. For example, if contamination will occur during defeathering and likely during evisceration, critical control points postevisceration are likely to have a greater effect on the end product going to the consumer.

The effects of storing and transporting cryopreserved semen samples on dry ice

PubMed Central

Til, David; Amaral, Vera L L; Salvador, Rafael A; Senn, Alfred; de Paula, Thais S

2016-01-01

Objective This study aimed to test the effects on sperm viability of transporting cryopreserved semen samples on dry ice. Methods Twenty normozoospermic semen samples were cryopreserved and divided into five groups. The samples in Group 1 were immersed in liquid nitrogen throughout the experiment in cryogenic storage tanks; the cryopreserved straws in Group 2 were placed in a Styrofoam box containing dry ice and kept under these conditions for 48 hours; the samples in Group 3 were kept for 48 hours on dry ice under the same conditions as the Group 2 samples, and were then moved to a storage tank filled with liquid nitrogen; Group 4 samples were also kept for 48 hours in dry ice storage, and the Styrofoam box containing the samples was shipped by plane to assess the effects of shipping; the samples in Group 5 were shipped together with the Group 4 samples and were placed in a storage tank with liquid nitrogen after spending 48 hours stored on dry ice. After thawing, sperm parameters were analyzed for viability, vitality, and motility; spermatozoa were also tested for mitochondrial activity. Results Significant decreases in motility recovery rates (P=0.01) and vitality (P=0.001) were observed in all groups when compared to the control group. Mitochondrial activity was significantly decreased only in Group 5 (P=0.04), as evidenced by greater numbers of sperm cells not stained by reagent 3,3'-diaminobenzidine. Conclusions Transportation did not affect the quality of cryopreserved semen samples, but dry ice as a means to preserve the samples during transportation had detrimental effects upon the sperm parameters assessed in this study. PMID:28050956

Quality changes of pomegranate arils throughout shelf life affected by deficit irrigation and pre-processing storage.

PubMed

Peña-Estévez, María E; Artés-Hernández, Francisco; Artés, Francisco; Aguayo, Encarna; Martínez-Hernández, Ginés Benito; Galindo, Alejandro; Gómez, Perla A

2016-10-15

This study investigated the influence of sustained deficit irrigation (SDI, 78% less water supply than the reference evapotranspiration, ET0) compared to a control (100% ET0) on the physicochemical and sensory qualities and health-promoting compounds of pomegranate arils stored for 14days at 5°C. Prior to processing, the fruits were stored for 0, 30, 60 or 90days at 5°C. The effect of the pre-processing storage duration was also examined. Physicochemical and sensory qualities were kept during the storage period. Arils from SDI fruit had lower punicalagin-α and ellagic acid losses than the control (13% vs 50%). However, the anthocyanin content decreased during the shelf-life (72%) regardless of the treatment. The ascorbic acid slight decreased. Arils from SDI experienced glucose/fructose ratio loss (19%) lower than that of the control (35%). In general, arils from SDI showed better quality and health attributes during the shelf-life than did the control samples. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Polarization controlled kinetics and composition of trivalent chromium coatings on aluminum.

PubMed

Dardona, Sameh; Chen, Lei; Kryzman, Michael; Goberman, Daniel; Jaworowski, Mark

2011-08-15

Combined in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry and electrochemistry have been employed to monitor, in real-time, the formation of trivalent Cr conversion coatings on polished Al substrates at applied sample potentials. It is found that the formation kinetics and chemical composition of the film can be controlled by adjusting the anodic and cathodic reactions. The growth kinetics are accelerated at more positive anodic potentials or more negative cathodic potentials. At more negative potentials, the percentage of chromium in the coating is found to increase, while the zirconium percentage decreases.

Experimental evolution reveals high insecticide tolerance in Daphnia inhabiting farmland ponds

PubMed Central

Jansen, Mieke; Coors, Anja; Vanoverbeke, Joost; Schepens, Melissa; De Voogt, Pim; De Schamphelaere, Karel A C; De Meester, Luc

2015-01-01

Exposure of nontarget populations to agricultural chemicals is an important aspect of global change. We quantified the capacity of natural Daphnia magna populations to locally adapt to insecticide exposure through a selection experiment involving carbaryl exposure and a control. Carbaryl tolerance after selection under carbaryl exposure did not increase significantly compared to the tolerance of the original field populations. However, there was evolution of a decreased tolerance in the control experimental populations compared to the original field populations. The magnitude of this decrease was positively correlated with land use intensity in the neighbourhood of the ponds from which the original populations were sampled. The genetic change in carbaryl tolerance in the control rather than in the carbaryl treatment suggests widespread selection for insecticide tolerance in the field associated with land use intensity and suggests that this evolution comes at a cost. Our data suggest a strong impact of current agricultural land use on nontarget natural Daphnia populations. PMID:26029258

A study of DNA protective effect of orange juice supplementation.

PubMed

Szeto, Yim Tong; To, Tai Lun; Pak, Sok Cheon; Kalle, Wouter

2013-05-01

The potential acute genoprotective effect of orange juice supplementation was investigated. Six healthy subjects (aged 33 to 60 years; 3 women and 3 men) were asked to drink 400 mL of commercial orange juice, which contained 100 mg vitamin C and 40.8 g sugar. Venous blood (2 mL) was taken before and 2 h after ingestion (test trial). A week later, the subjects were asked to repeat the trial by drinking 400 mL water with 100 mg vitamin C and 40.8 g glucose (control trial). Lymphocytes isolated from blood samples underwent comet assay on the day of collection. Pre- and postingestion DNA damage scores were measured in both the test and control trials. Results showed that there was a significant decrease in DNA damage induced by hydrogen peroxide after 2 h of supplementation with orange juice, and no change in baseline DNA damage. There was no significant decrease in the DNA damage in lymphocytes in the control trial.

Trends in point-of-sale tobacco marketing around college campuses: Opportunities for enhanced tobacco control efforts.

PubMed

Wagoner, Kimberly G; Sutfin, Erin L; Song, Eunyoung Y; King, Jessica L; Egan, Kathleen L; Reboussin, Beth; Debinski, Beata; Spangler, John; Wolfson, Mark

2018-04-01

Colleges have implemented policies to limit tobacco use on-campus; however, the off-campus environment is often overlooked in tobacco control efforts. We assessed availability, marketing, and promotion of cigarettes, snus, and traditional smokeless tobacco (SLT) in a sample of communities surrounding 11 college campuses in North Carolina and Virginia. Between January-March of 2011, 2012 and 2013, 481 tobacco-selling retailers, including convenience stores, pharmacies and supermarkets, located near campuses were assessed. Trained observers completed annual point-of-sale assessments. The percentage of stores selling (81.4% to 58.6%; p < .0001) and advertising snus (80.1% to 53.11%; p < .0001) significantly decreased over time. Convenience stores increased promotions of cigarettes (65.4% to 72.8%; p = 0.04) and SLT (3.1% to 23.3%; p = 0.02). Off-campus environments have abundant tobacco availability and marketing. Colleges should collaborate with state and local tobacco control advocates to address tobacco promotion near campuses to potentially decrease product appeal and access among young adults.

{sup 1}H NMR-based spectroscopy detects metabolic alterations in serum of patients with early-stage ulcerative colitis

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Ying; Lin, Lianjie; Xu, Yanbin

2013-04-19

Highlights: •Twenty ulcerative colitis patients and nineteen healthy controls were enrolled. •Increased 3-hydroxybutyrate, glucose, phenylalanine, and decreased lipid were found. •We report early stage diagnosis of ulcerative colitis using NMR-based metabolomics. -- Abstract: Ulcerative colitis (UC) has seriously impaired the health of citizens. Accurate diagnosis of UC at an early stage is crucial to improve the efficiency of treatment and prognosis. In this study, proton nuclear magnetic resonance ({sup 1}H NMR)-based metabolomic analysis was performed on serum samples collected from active UC patients (n = 20) and healthy controls (n = 19), respectively. The obtained spectral profiles were subjected tomore » multivariate data analysis. Our results showed that consistent metabolic alterations were present between the two groups. Compared to healthy controls, UC patients displayed increased 3-hydroxybutyrate, β-glucose, α-glucose, and phenylalanine, but decreased lipid in serum. These findings highlight the possibilities of NMR-based metabolomics as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for UC.« less

Application and assessment of a regular environmental monitoring of the antineoplastic drug contamination level in pharmacies - the MEWIP project.

PubMed

Kiffmeyer, Thekla K; Tuerk, Jochen; Hahn, Moritz; Stuetzer, Hartmut; Hadtstein, Claudia; Heinemann, André; Eickmann, Udo

2013-05-01

A large-scale study was carried out in order to determine the contamination level of antineoplastic drugs in pharmacies and to investigate the suitability and effects of wipe sample monitoring at regular intervals. A specific study design was developed. The 130 participating pharmacies were divided into a study and a control group, carrying out five and two wipe sampling cycles, respectively. The work practice was analyzed using questionnaires to identify factors that influence the contamination level. From 1269 wipe samples, 774 (61%) were contaminated with at least one of the analyzed cytotoxic drugs: cyclophosphamide, docetaxel, etoposide, 5-fluorouracil, gemcitabine, ifosfamide, methotrexate, and paclitaxel. A significant decrease of the contamination with cyclophosphamide and 5-fluorouracil was observed in the study group. The Monitoring-Effect Study of Wipe Sampling in Pharmacies method has proven to be a reliable and affordable tool for contamination control. Based on the 90th percentile of the contamination values, a substance-independent performance-based guidance value of 0.1ng cm(-2) has been derived.

Spatio-temporal analysis of the genetic diversity and complexity of Plasmodium falciparum infections in Kedougou, southeastern Senegal.

PubMed

Niang, Makhtar; Thiam, Laty G; Loucoubar, Cheikh; Sow, Abdourahmane; Sadio, Bacary D; Diallo, Mawlouth; Sall, Amadou A; Toure-Balde, Aissatou

2017-01-19

Genetic analyses of the malaria parasite population and its temporal and spatial dynamics could provide an assessment of the effectiveness of disease control strategies. The genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum has been poorly documented in Senegal, and limited data are available from the Kedougou Region. This study examines the spatial and temporal variation of the genetic diversity and complexity of P. falciparum infections in acute febrile patients in Kedougou, southeastern Senegal. A total of 263 sera from patients presenting with acute febrile illness and attending Kedougou health facilities between July 2009 and July 2013 were obtained from a collection established as part of arbovirus surveillance in Kedougou. Samples identified as P. falciparum by nested PCR were characterized for their genetic diversity and complexity using msp-1 and msp-2 polymorphic markers. Samples containing only P. falciparum accounted for 60.83% (160/263) of the examined samples. All three msp-1 allelic families (K1, MAD20 and RO33) and two msp-2 allelic families (FC27 and 3D7) were detected in all villages investigated over the 5-year collection period. The average genotype per allelic family was comparable between villages. Frequencies of msp-1 and msp-2 allelic types showed no correlation with age (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.59) or gender (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.973), and were similarly distributed throughout the 5-year sampling period (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.412) and across villages (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.866). Mean multiplicity of infection (MOI) for both msp-1 and msp-2 was highest in Kedougou village (2.25 and 2.21, respectively) and among younger patients aged ≤ 15 years (2.12 and 2.00, respectively). The mean MOI was highest in 2009 and decreased progressively onward. Characterization of the genetic diversity and complexity of P. falciparum infections in Kedougou revealed no spatio-temporal variation in the genetic diversity of P. falciparum isolates. However, mean MOI varied with time of sera collection and decreased over the course of the study (July 2009 to July 2013). This suggests a slow progressive decrease of malaria transmission intensity in Kedougou Region despite the limited impact of preventive and control measures implemented by the National Malaria Control Programme on malaria morbidity and mortality.

The failing human heart is characterized by decreased numbers of telocytes as result of apoptosis and altered extracellular matrix composition.

PubMed

Richter, Manfred; Kostin, Sawa

2015-11-01

Telocytes (TCs) are a novel type of interstitial cells only recently described. This study aimed at characterizing and quantifying TCs and telopodes (Tps) in normal and diseased hearts. We have been suggested that TCs are influenced by the extracellular matrix (ECM) composition. We used transmission electron microscopy and c-kit immunolabelling to identify and quantify TCs in explanted human hearts with heart failure (HF) because of dilated, ischemic or inflammatory cardiomyopathy. LV myectomy samples from patients with aortic stenosis with preserved ejection fraction and samples from donor hearts which could not be used for transplantation served as controls. Quantitative immunoconfocal analysis revealed that 1 mm(2) of the normal myocardium contains 14.9 ± 3.4 TCs and 41.6 ± 5.9 Tps. As compared with the control group, the number of TCs and Tps in HF decreased more than twofold. There were no differences between HF and control in the number of Ki67-positive TCs. In contrast, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling-positive TCs increased threefold in diseased hearts as compared to control. Significant inverse correlations were found between the amount of mature fibrillar collagen type I and the number of TCs (r = -0.84; P < 0.01) and Tps (r = -0.85; P < 0.01). The levels of degraded collagens showed a significant positive relationship with the TCs numbers. It is concluded that in HF the number of TCs are decreased because of higher rates of TCs apoptosis. Moreover, our results indicate that a close relationship exists between TCs and the ECM protein composition such that the number of TCs and Tps correlates negatively with the amount of mature fibrillar collagens and correlates positively with degraded collagens. © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd and Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine.

The effect of sample storage on the performance and reproducibility of the galactomannan EIA test.

PubMed

Kimpton, George; White, P Lewis; Barnes, Rosemary A

2014-08-01

Galactomannan enzyme immune assay (GM EIA) is a nonculture test for detecting invasive aspergillosis (IA) forming a key part of diagnosis and management. Recent reports have questioned the reproducibility of indices after sample storage. To investigate this, 198 serum samples (72 from cases and 126 from controls) and 61 plasma samples (24 from cases and 37 from controls), initially tested between 2010 and 2013, were retested to determine any change in index. Data were also collected on circulatory protein levels for false-positive serum samples. Serum indices significantly declined on retesting (median: initial, 0.50, retest, 0.23; P < 0.0001). This was shown to be diagnosis dependent as the decline was apparent on retesting of control samples (median: initial 0.50, retest 0.12; P < 0.0001), but was not evident with case samples (median: initial, 0.80, retest, 0.80; P = 0.724). Plasma samples showed little change on reanalysis after long-term storage at 4°C. Retesting after freezing showed a decrease in index values for controls (median: initial 0.40, retest 0.26; P = 0.0505), but no significant change in cases. Circulatory proteins showed a correlation between serum albumin concentration and difference in index value on retesting. Overall, this study suggests that a lack of reproducibility in GM EIA positivity is only significant when disease is absent. Retesting after freezing helps to differentiate false-positive GM EIA results and, with consecutive positivity, could help to improve accuracy in predicting disease status. The freezing of samples prior to testing could potentially reduce false-positivity rates and the need to retest. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The International Society for Human and Animal Mycology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

[Examination of analytical method for triphenyltin (TPT) and tributyltin (TBT) to revise the official methods based on "Act on the Control of Household Products Containing Harmful Substances"].

PubMed

Kawakami, Tsuyoshi; Isama, Kazuo; Nakashima, Harunobu; Yoshida, Jin; Ooshima, Tomoko; Ohno, Hiroyuki; Uemura, Hitoshi; Shioda, Hiroko; Kikuchi, Yoko; Matsuoka, Atsuko; Nishimura, Tetsuji

2012-01-01

The use of triphenyltin (TPT) and tributyltin (TBT) in some household products is banned by "Act on the Control of Household Products Containing Harmful Substances" in Japan. To revise the official analytical method, the method for detecting these organotin compounds was examined in six laboratories using a textile product, water-based adhesive, oil-based paint, which contained known amounts of TPT and TBT (0.1, 1.0, 10 μg/g). TPT and TBT were measured by GC-MS after ethyl-derivation with sodium tetraethylborate. The TBT recoveries in the samples were 70-120%. The TPT recoveries in the water-based adhesive samples were 80-110%, while its concentrations in the textile product and oil-based paint samples decreased because of dephenylation during storage. However, the precision of the method examined was satisfactory because most coefficients of variation for TPT and TBT in the samples were less than 10%. Furthermore, the revised method was able to detect concentrations lower than the officially regulated value. However, the sample matrix and the condition of analytical instrument might affect the estimated TPT and TBT concentrations. Therefore, the revised method may not be suitable for quantitative tests; rather, it can be employed to judge the acceptable levels of these organotin compounds by comparing the values of control sample containing regulated amounts of TPT and TBT with those for an unknown sample, with deuterated TPT and TBT as surrogate substances. It is desirable that TPT in textile and oil-based paint samples are analyzed immediately after the samples obtained because of the decomposition of TPT.

Effects of dexamethasone-21-isonicotinate on peripheral insulin action in dairy cows 5 days after surgical correction of abomasal displacement.

PubMed

Kusenda, M; Kaske, M; Piechotta, M; Locher, L; Starke, A; Huber, K; Rehage, J

2013-01-01

Dexamethasone frequently is used for treatment of ketosis in dairy cows, but its effects are not fully understood. Dexamethasone treatment affects whole body insulin sensitivity. Twelve German Holstein cows, 2-4 weeks postpartum, 5 days after omentopexy to correct left abomasal displacement. Randomized, blinded, case-control study. Treatment with dexamethasone-21-isonicotinate (DG; 40 μg/kg IM; n = 6) or saline (control group [CG], 15 mL IM, n = 6) on day 0 (d0). Blood samples were obtained before (d0) and after treatment (d1 and d2), and analyzed for glucose, insulin, and nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations. Hepatic triglycerides (TAG) were measured in liver samples taken on d0 and d2. Five consecutive hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps (HEC-I-V; insulin dosages: 0.1, 0.5, 2, 5, 10 mU/kg/min, respectively) were performed on d1 and steady state glucose infusion rate (SSGIR), insulin concentration (SSIC), insulin sensitivity index (ISI = SSGIR/SSIC), and plasma NEFA concentration (SSNEFA) were assessed. Compared with CG-cows, DG-cows on d1 had higher plasma glucose (P = .004) and insulin (P < .001) concentrations, decreased SSGIR (HEC-II, P = .002; HEC-IV, P = .033), ISI (HEC-I, P < .015; HEC-II, P = .004), and insulin-stimulated decrease in SSNEFA (HEC-II, P = .006; HEC-III, P = .01; HEC-IV, P = .003; HEC-V, P = .011). Decrease in hepatic TAG content in DG-cows was higher compared with CG-cows (P < .001). Dexamethasone decreases whole body insulin sensitivity and affects glucose and lipid metabolism in early lactating dairy cows. Copyright © 2012 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Impaired Mitochondrial Biogenesis Precedes Heart Failure in Right Ventricular Hypertrophy in Congenital Heart Disease

PubMed Central

Karamanlidis, Georgios; Bautista-Hernandez, Victor; Fynn-Thompson, Francis; Nido, Pedro del; Tian, Rong

2011-01-01

Background The outcome of the surgical repair in congenital heart disease (CHD) correlates with the degree of myocardial damage. In this study we determined whether mitochondrial DNA depletion is a sensitive marker of right ventricular (RV) damage and whether impaired mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication contributes to the transition from compensated hypertrophy to failure. Methods and Results RV samples obtained from 31 patients undergoing cardiac surgery were compared to 5 RV samples from non-failing hearts (control). Patients were divided into compensated hypertrophy and failure groups based on preoperative echocardiography, catheterization and/or MRI data. Mitochondrial enzyme activities (citrate synthase and succinate dehydrogenase) were maintained during hypertrophy and decreased by ~40% (p<0.05 vs. control) at the stage of failure. In contrast, mtDNA content was progressively decreased in the hypertrophied RV through failure (by 28±8% and 67±11% respectively, p<0.05 for both), whereas mtDNA encoded gene expression was sustained by increased transcriptional activity during compensated hypertrophy but not in failure. MtDNA depletion was attributed to reduced mtDNA replication in both hypertrophied and failing RV and it was independent of PGC-1 down-regulation but was accompanied by reduced expression of proteins constituting the mtDNA replication fork. Decreased mtDNA content in compensated hypertrophy was also associated with pathological changes of mitochondria ultrastructure. Conclusions Impaired mtDNA replication causes early and progressive depletion of mtDNA in the RV of the CHD patients during the transition from hypertrophy to failure. Decreased mtDNA content is likely a sensitive marker of mitochondrial injury in this patient population. PMID:21840936

The effect of emotion regulation training in decreasing emotion failures and self-injurious behaviors among students suffering from specific learning disorder (SLD).

PubMed

Habibzadeh, Abbas; Pourabdol, Saeed; Saravani, Shahzad

2015-01-01

A great deal of attention has been given to the study of learning disorders. Hence, the aim of this research was to study the effect of emotion regulation training in decreasing emotion failures and self-injurious behaviors among students suffering from specific learning disorder. This was an experimental study with the pre-test, post-test and a control group. Research population included all 5th grade male students suffering from specific learning disorder (case study: 5th grade students in Ardabil in 2015). Research sample included 40 male students suffering from specific learning disorder (SLD) who were selected through multi-step cluster sampling and classified into two groups: Experimental group (n= 20) and control group (n= 20). The following tools were used for data collection: Kay Math mathematic Test, Raven Intelligence Test, Reading Test of Shafiei et al, Falahchay Writing Expression, Emotion Failures Scale, Self-Injurious Behavior Questionnaire and Diagnostic Interview based on DSM-5. Data were analyzed by multivariate of variance analysis (MANOVA) model in the SPSS software version 22. The results of MANOVA revealed that emotion regulation training was effective in decreasing emotion failures in all parameters (difficulty in describing feelings, difficulty in identifying feelings, and externally oriented thinking style) and self-injurious behaviors in students suffering from specific learning disorder (p< 0.001). In this study, it was found that since emotion regulation training can have a remarkable effect on reducing negative emotions and increasing the positive ones; this treatment can play an eminent role in decreasing emotion failures and self-injurious behaviors in such students.

Overnight Changes of Immune Parameters and Catecholamines Are Associated With Mood and Stress

PubMed Central

Rief, Winfried; Mills, Paul J.; Ancoli-Israel, Sonia; Ziegler, Michael G.; Pung, Meredith A.; Dimsdale, Joel E.

2011-01-01

Objectives To test the hypothesis that a nocturnal decrease of secretion of inflammation markers and catecholamines would be associated with mood and stress variables even after controlling for objective sleep variables. Methods A total of 130 healthy volunteers participated in this study, spending 2 nights in the Gillin Laboratory of Sleep and Chronobiology at the University of California, San Diego, General Clinical Research Center. Blood samples were obtained before sleep (10:30 PM) and after awakening (6:30 AM) on the first day, and these samples were assayed for inflammatory biomarkers and catecholamines. On the second night, polysomnographic records were scored for objective sleep variables, e.g., total sleep time and wake after sleep onset. Self-rating scales for mood, stress, depression, and daily hassles were administered the second day. Results The nocturnal decrease in interleukin-6 was smaller in people who reported more negative mood or fatigue and greater in those who reported more uplift events (e.g., with Profile of Mood States fatigue rp = −.25 to −.30). People with high stress or high depression levels had smaller nocturnal decreases of epinephrine. That relationship was even stronger when partial correlations were used to control for morning level and sleep variables. The associations between nocturnal changes of C-reactive protein, soluble tumor necrosis factor-receptor I, and norepinephrine with psychological states were nonremarkable. Conclusions The analyses of nocturnal change scores (difference scores) add substantial information compared with the traditional analyses of morning levels of immune variables and catecholamines alone. Subjective well-being is significantly associated with a greater nocturnal decrease of interleukin-6 and epinephrine. More research on nocturnal adaptation processes is warranted. PMID:20841563

Overnight changes of immune parameters and catecholamines are associated with mood and stress.

PubMed

Rief, Winfried; Mills, Paul J; Ancoli-Israel, Sonia; Ziegler, Michael G; Pung, Meredith A; Dimsdale, Joel E

2010-10-01

To test the hypothesis that a nocturnal decrease of secretion of inflammation markers and catecholamines would be associated with mood and stress variables even after controlling for objective sleep variables. A total of 130 healthy volunteers participated in this study, spending 2 nights in the Gillin Laboratory of Sleep and Chronobiology at the University of California, San Diego, General Clinical Research Center. Blood samples were obtained before sleep (10:30 PM) and after awakening (6:30 AM) on the first day, and these samples were assayed for inflammatory biomarkers and catecholamines. On the second night, polysomnographic records were scored for objective sleep variables, e.g., total sleep time and wake after sleep onset. Self-rating scales for mood, stress, depression, and daily hassles were administered the second day. The nocturnal decrease in interleukin-6 was smaller in people who reported more negative mood or fatigue and greater in those who reported more uplift events (e.g., with Profile of Mood States fatigue r(p) = -.25 to -.30). People with high stress or high depression levels had smaller nocturnal decreases of epinephrine. That relationship was even stronger when partial correlations were used to control for morning level and sleep variables. The associations between nocturnal changes of C-reactive protein, soluble tumor necrosis factor-receptor I, and norepinephrine with psychological states were nonremarkable. The analyses of nocturnal change scores (difference scores) add substantial information compared with the traditional analyses of morning levels of immune variables and catecholamines alone. Subjective well-being is significantly associated with a greater nocturnal decrease of interleukin-6 and epinephrine. More research on nocturnal adaptation processes is warranted.

Effect of buckwheat flour on cooking quality and some chemical, antinutritional and sensory properties of erişte, Turkish noodle.

PubMed

Bilgiçli, Nermin

2009-01-01

In this study, wheat flour used in erişte production was replaced with whole buckwheat flour (BWF) up to a 40% level to improve the nutritional properties of erişte. The chemical composition, phytic acid content, color values, cooking quality and sensory properties of erişte samples were determined. High levels of BWF in erişte formulation increased the ash, cellulose and fat content when compared with a control made by wheat flour. The 40% BWF supplementation instead of wheat flour decreased the starch content from 65.4% to 58.4%. Increasing the BWF level in the erişte sample resulted in an expected increase (P<0.05) in the phytic acid content and potassium, magnesium and phosphorus amounts. Significant decreases were observed in water uptake and volume increase values with BWF addition levels over 20%. BWF gave darker erişte samples in color. erişte containing BWF up to a 25% level were appreciated by the panelists, especially in terms of overall acceptability.

Influence of surface treatments on micropore structure and hydrogen adsorption behavior of nanoporous carbons.

PubMed

Kim, Byung-Joo; Park, Soo-Jin

2007-07-15

The scope of this work was to control the pore sizes of porous carbons by various surface treatments and to investigate the relation between pore structures and hydrogen adsorption capacity. The effects of various surface treatments (i.e., gas-phase ozone, anodic oxidation, fluorination, and oxygen plasma) on the micropore structures of porous carbons were investigated by N(2)/77 K isothermal adsorption. The hydrogen adsorption capacity was measured by H(2) isothermal adsorption at 77 K. In the result, the specific surface area and micropore volume of all of the treated samples were slightly decreased due to the micropore filling or pore collapsing behaviors. It was also found that in F(2)-treated carbons the center of the pore size distribution was shifted to left side, meaning that the average size of the micropores decreased. The F(2)- and plasma-treated samples showed higher hydrogen storage capacities than did the other samples, the F(2)-treated one being the best, indicating that the micropore size of the porous carbons played a key role in the hydrogen adsorption at 77 K.

Impact of pre-drying and frying time on physical properties and sensorial acceptability of fried potato chips.

PubMed

Cruz, Giorman; Cruz-Tirado, J P; Delgado, Kevin; Guzman, Yorvin; Castro, Franco; Rojas, Meliza Lindsay; Linares, Guillermo

2018-01-01

In this work the effects of pre-drying and frying time on colour, oil, texture and sensorial acceptability (overall liking) of potato chips were evaluated. Potato chips were pre-dried for 0, 10, 20 and 30 min at 60 °C and fried in soybean oil at 190 °C for 60, 70 and 80 s. The colour parameters (L*, a* and b*) increased or decreased depending on the pre-drying and frying time. Hardness increased as the pre-drying and frying time increased. On the other hand, the water initially removed by pre-drying decrease the gradient of mass transfer (water-oil). The oil content reduced to (about 21%) in pre-dried samples when compared to control sample. Finally, sensorial evaluation showed that samples without pre-drying and/or fried for very short or very long times had low acceptance levels. The pre-drying and frying times influenced the colour, texture, water and oil content, and resulted into fried potato chips with better acceptance scores.

Verification of radio frequency pasteurization treatment for controlling Aspergillus parasiticus on corn grains.

PubMed

Zheng, Ajuan; Zhang, Lihui; Wang, Shaojin

2017-05-16

Radio frequency (RF) heating has been proposed and tested to achieve a required anti-fungal efficacy on various food samples due to its advantage of deeper penetration depth and better heating uniformity. The purpose of this study was to validate applications of RF treatments for controlling Aspergillus parasiticus in corn while maintaining product quality. A pilot-scale, 27.12MHz, 6kW RF heating system together with hot air heating was used to rapidly pasteurize 3.0kg corn samples. Results showed that the pasteurizing effect of RF heating on Aspergillus parasiticus increased with increasing heating temperature and holding time, and RF heating at 70°C holding in hot air for at least 12min resulted in 5-6 log reduction of Aspergillus parasiticus in corn samples with the moisture content of 15.0% w.b. Furthermore, thermal resistance of Aspergillus parasiticus decreased with increasing moisture content (MC) of corn samples. Quality (MC, water activity - a w , protein, starch, ash, fat, fatty acid, color, electrical conductivity and germination rate) of RF treated corn met the required quality standard used in cereal industry. Therefore, RF treatments can provide an effective and rapid heating method to control Aspergillus parasiticus and maintain acceptable corn quality. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ten years of preanalytical monitoring and control: Synthetic Balanced Score Card Indicator

PubMed Central

López-Garrigós, Maite; Flores, Emilio; Santo-Quiles, Ana; Gutierrez, Mercedes; Lugo, Javier; Lillo, Rosa; Leiva-Salinas, Carlos

2015-01-01

Introduction Preanalytical control and monitoring continue to be an important issue for clinical laboratory professionals. The aim of the study was to evaluate a monitoring system of preanalytical errors regarding not suitable samples for analysis, based on different indicators; to compare such indicators in different phlebotomy centres; and finally to evaluate a single synthetic preanalytical indicator that may be included in the balanced scorecard management system (BSC). Materials and methods We collected individual and global preanalytical errors in haematology, coagulation, chemistry, and urine samples analysis. We also analyzed a synthetic indicator that represents the sum of all types of preanalytical errors, expressed in a sigma level. We studied the evolution of those indicators over time and compared indicator results by way of the comparison of proportions and Chi-square. Results There was a decrease in the number of errors along the years (P < 0.001). This pattern was confirmed in primary care patients, inpatients and outpatients. In blood samples, fewer errors occurred in outpatients, followed by inpatients. Conclusion We present a practical and effective methodology to monitor unsuitable sample preanalytical errors. The synthetic indicator results summarize overall preanalytical sample errors, and can be used as part of BSC management system. PMID:25672466

Hyperhomocysteinemia in polycystic ovary syndrome: decreased betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase and cystathionine β-synthase-mediated homocysteine metabolism.

PubMed

Li, Da; Liu, Hong-Xiang; Fang, Yuan-Yuan; Huo, Jia-Ning; Wu, Qi-Jun; Wang, Tian-Ren; Zhou, Yi-Ming; Wang, Xiu-Xia; Ma, Xiao-Xin

2018-05-22

What are the metabolic characteristics of homocysteine in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)? Homocysteine concentrations were determined in serum samples from non-obese and obese control subjects and PCOS patients. Homocysteine metabolism was studied in a rat model of PCOS established using dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) or DHEA in combination with a high-fat diet (HFD). It was shown that (i) serum homocysteine concentrations were greater in PCOS patients than in control subjects in the obese group (P < 0.05) and serum homocysteine concentrations were significantly higher in the obese group than in the non-obese group, regardless of PCOS status (both P < 0.05); (ii) serum homocysteine concentrations were significantly increased in DHEA + HFD-induced rats compared with controls (P < 0.05); (iii) when compared with the control group, mRNA concentrations of homocysteine metabolic enzymes Bhmt and Cbs were significantly reduced in the liver tissues of DHEA + HFD-induced rats (both P < 0.0001); (iv) when compared with the control group, there was a significant decrease in the methylation concentrations of the Cbs (P < 0.05) and Bhmt (P < 0.05 and P < 0.0001) promoter in the DHEA + HFD group. The methylation patterns, together with previous data, indicate that hypomethylated promoter-mediated transcriptional activation of Bhmt and Cbs might be a defence mechanism against PCOS-related hyperhomocysteinemia. These findings indicate that decreased liver Bhmt and Cbs-mediated homocysteine metabolism might have a role in hyperhomocysteinemia in PCOS and provides further evidence for a potential role of decreased liver function in PCOS. Copyright © 2018 Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of momentary self-monitoring on empowerment in a randomized controlled trial in patients with depression.

PubMed

Simons, C J P; Hartmann, J A; Kramer, I; Menne-Lothmann, C; Höhn, P; van Bemmel, A L; Myin-Germeys, I; Delespaul, P; van Os, J; Wichers, M

2015-11-01

Interventions based on the experience sampling method (ESM) are ideally suited to provide insight into personal, contextualized affective patterns in the flow of daily life. Recently, we showed that an ESM-intervention focusing on positive affect was associated with a decrease in symptoms in patients with depression. The aim of the present study was to examine whether ESM-intervention increased patient empowerment. Depressed out-patients (n=102) receiving psychopharmacological treatment who had participated in a randomized controlled trial with three arms: (i) an experimental group receiving six weeks of ESM self-monitoring combined with weekly feedback sessions, (ii) a pseudo-experimental group participating in six weeks of ESM self-monitoring without feedback, and (iii) a control group (treatment as usual only). Patients were recruited in the Netherlands between January 2010 and February 2012. Self-report empowerment scores were obtained pre- and post-intervention. There was an effect of group×assessment period, indicating that the experimental (B=7.26, P=0.061, d=0.44, statistically imprecise) and pseudo-experimental group (B=11.19, P=0.003, d=0.76) increased more in reported empowerment compared to the control group. In the pseudo-experimental group, 29% of the participants showed a statistically reliable increase in empowerment score and 0% reliable decrease compared to 17% reliable increase and 21% reliable decrease in the control group. The experimental group showed 19% reliable increase and 4% reliable decrease. These findings tentatively suggest that self-monitoring to complement standard antidepressant treatment may increase patients' feelings of empowerment. Further research is necessary to investigate long-term empowering effects of self-monitoring in combination with person-tailored feedback. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Atmospheric particulate mercury in the megacity Beijing: Efficiency of mitigation measures and assessment of health effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schleicher, N. J.; Schäfer, J.; Chen, Y.; Blanc, G.; Chen, Y.; Chai, F.; Cen, K.; Norra, S.

2016-01-01

Atmospheric particulate mercury (HgP) was studied before, during, and after the Olympic Summer Games in Beijing, China, in August 2008 in order to investigate the efficiency of the emission control measures implemented by the Chinese Government. These source control measures comprised traffic reductions, increase in public transportation, planting of vegetation, establishment of parks, building freeze at construction sites, cleaner production techniques for industries and industry closures in Beijing and also in the surrounding areas. Strictest measures including the ;odd-even ban; to halve the vehicle volume were enforced from the 20th of July to the 20th of September 2008. The Olympic period provided the unique opportunity to investigate the efficiency of these comprehensive actions implemented in order to reduce air pollution on a large scale. Therefore, the sampling period covered summer (August, September) and winter (December and January) samples over several years from December 2005 to September 2013. Average HgP concentrations in total suspended particulates (TSP) sampled in August 2008 were 81 ± 39 pg/m3 while TSP mass concentrations were 93 ± 49 μg/m3. This equals a reduction by about 63% for TSP mass and 65% for HgP, respectively, compared to the previous two years demonstrating the short-term success of the measures. However, after the Olympic Games, HgP concentrations increased again to pre-Olympic levels in August 2009 while values in August 2010 decreased again by 30%. Moreover, winter samples, which were 2- to 11-fold higher than corresponding August values, showed decreasing concentrations over the years indicating a long-term improvement of HgP pollution in Beijing. However, regarding adverse health effects, comparisons with soil guideline values and studies from other cities highlighted that HgP concentrations in TSP remained high in Beijing despite respective control measures. Consequently, future mitigation measures need to be tailored more specifically to further reduce HgP concentrations in Beijing.

Impacts of cerium oxide nanoparticles on bacterial community in activated sludge.

PubMed

Kamika, I; Tekere, M

2017-12-01

Rapidly developing industry raises concerns about the environmental impacts of nanoparticles, but the effects of inorganic nanoparticles on bacterial community in wastewater treatment remain unclear. The present research assessed the impact of cerium oxide nanoparticles (nCeO) on the microbiome of activated sludge system. The results showed that 18,330 over 28,201 reads generated from control samples were assigned to Proteobacteria while 5527 reads (19.6%), 3260 reads (11.567%), and 719 reads (2.55%) were assigned to unclassified_Bacteria, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria, respectively. When stressed with nCeO 2 NPs, a decrease on reads was noted with 53, 48, 27.7 and 24% assigned to Proteobacteria. Gammaproteobacteria (80.57%) was found to be the most predominant Proteobacteria. The impact of nCeO 2 NPs was also observed on pollutants removal as only 1.83 and 35.15% of phosphate and nitrate could be removed in the bioreactor stressed with 40 mg-nCeO 2 -NPs/L. This was confirmed by a drastic reduction of activities for enzymes catalysing denitrification (NaR and NiR) and degradation of polyphosphate (ADK and PPK). ADK appeared to be the most affected enzyme with activity decrease reaching over 90% when stressed with 10 mg-nCeO 2 /L. Furthermore, bacterial diversity was not significantly different whereas their species richness showed significant difference between control and treated samples. A large number of reads from control samples could not be classified down to the lower taxonomic level "genera" suggesting hitherto vast untapped microbial diversity. The denitrification related genera including Trichococcus and Acinetobacter were found to alternatively dominating treated samples highlighting those nCeO 2 NPs could enhance the growth of some bacterial species while inhibiting those of others. Nevertheless, the study indicates that nCeO 2 NPs in wastewater at very high concentrations may have some adverse effects on activated sludge process as they inhibit the removal of phosphate.

Polysaccharides in Spirulina platensis Improve Antioxidant Capacity of Chinese-Style Sausage.

PubMed

Luo, Aiguo; Feng, Jia; Hu, Bianfang; Lv, Junping; Chen, C-Y Oliver; Xie, Shulian

2017-11-01

This study examined the effect of Spirulina platensis polysaccharides (SPP) at 0.1%, 0.25%, and 0.5% (wt/wt) of Chinese-style sausages on lipid peroxidation, microbiological and sensory properties during 24 d stored at 4 °C. During the storage, pH, lightness (L * ) values, DPPH radical scavenging activity and sensory scores decreased with time and TBARS, TVB-N, mesophilic, and psychrotrophic total viable counts increased. However, the magnitude of the changes was attenuated with the addition of SPP as compared to control. Samples containing SPP had significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher DPPH radical scavenging activity and lower TBARS values compared with the control, and the antioxidant effect was dose-dependent. The addition of 0.5% SPP maintained stable redness (a * ) values of sausages, although there was no positive effect on the microbiological status. Moreover, the addition of SPP prevented the decrease of aroma, flavor and sensory acceptance of samples. The results suggested incorporation of SPP could decrease lipid peroxidation and improve sensory properties of Chinese-style sausage. There is a great need for adding natural antioxidants to healthier meat and meat products. Spirulina platensis polysaccharides (SPP) had strong antioxidant activity. The addition of SPP to Chinese-style pork sausage could inhibit lipid peroxidation, to extend the shelf life of meat products. SPP were very potential to be used to replace synthetic antioxidants in meat and meat products. © 2017 Institute of Food Technologists®.

Effect of music therapy on the anxiety levels and pregnancy rate of women undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer: A randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Aba, Yilda Arzu; Avci, Dilek; Guzel, Yilmaz; Ozcelik, Semanur Kumral; Gurtekin, Basak

2017-08-01

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of music therapy on the anxiety levels and pregnancy rates of women who underwent in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer. This prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted with 186 infertile women who presented to the In Vitro Fertilization Unit at the American Hospital in Turkey between April 2015 and April 2016. The infertile women who met the inclusion criteria were assigned to the music therapy group or the standard therapy group through block randomization. The study data were collected using the Personal Information Form, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Early treatment success was determined by serum beta human chorionic gonadotrophin levels seven or ten days after the luteal day zero. For the analysis, descriptive statistics, chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, independent sample t-test were used. After the embryo transfer, the mean state anxiety scores decreased in both groups, and the mean trait anxiety score decreased in the music therapy group; however, the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Clinical pregnancy rates did not differ between the music (48.3%) and standard (46.4%) therapy groups. After the two sessions of music therapy, state and trait anxiety levels decreased and pregnancy rates increased, but the difference was not significant. Therefore, larger sample sizes and more sessions are needed to evaluate whether music therapy has an effect on clinical outcomes. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Nano-metal oxides: Exposure and engineering control assessment.

PubMed

Garcia, Alberto; Eastlake, Adrienne; Topmiller, Jennifer L; Sparks, Christopher; Martinez, Kenneth; Geraci, Charles L

2017-09-01

In January 2007, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted a field study to evaluate process specific emissions during the production of ENMs. This study was performed using the nanoparticle emission assessment technique (NEAT). During this study, it was determined that ENMs were released during production and cleaning of the process reactor. Airborne concentrations of silver, nickel, and iron were found both in the employee's personal breathing zone and area samples during reactor cleaning. At the completion of this initial survey, it was suggested that a flanged attachment be added to the local exhaust ventilation system.  NIOSH re-evaluated the facility in December 2011 to assess worker exposures following an increase in production rates. This study included a fully comprehensive emissions, exposure, and engineering control evaluation of the entire process. This study made use of the nanoparticle exposure assessment technique (NEAT 2.0). Data obtained from filter-based samples and direct reading instruments indicate that reactor cleanout increased the overall particle concentration in the immediate area. However, it does not appear that these concentrations affect areas outside of the production floor. As the distance between the reactor and the sample location increased, the observed particle number concentration decreased, creating a concentration gradient with respect to the reactor. The results of this study confirm that the flanged attachment on the local exhaust ventilation system served to decrease exposure potential.  Given the available toxicological data of the metals evaluated, caution is warranted. One should always keep in mind that occupational exposure levels were not developed specifically for nanoscale particles. With data suggesting that certain nanoparticles may be more toxic than the larger counterparts of the same material; employers should attempt to control emissions of these particles at the source, to limit the potential for exposure.

Egg Shell and Oyster Shell Powder as Alternatives for Synthetic Phosphate: Effects on the Quality of Cooked Ground Pork Products

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

This study aimed to determine the optimal ratio of natural calcium powders (oyster shell and egg shell calcium) as synthetic phosphate replacers in pork products. Ground pork samples were subjected to six treatments, as follows: control (−) (no phosphate added), control (+) (0.3% phosphate blend added), treatment 1 (0.5% oyster shell calcium powder added), treatment 2 (0.3% oyster shell calcium powder and 0.2% egg shell calcium powder added), treatment 3 (0.2% oyster shell calcium powder and 0.3% egg shell calcium powder added), and treatment 4 (0.5% egg shell calcium powder added). The addition of natural calcium powders resulted in an increase in the pH values of meat products, regardless of whether they were used individually or mixed. The highest cooking loss was observed (p<0.05) in the negative control samples, whereas the cooking loss in samples with natural calcium powder added was similar (p>0.05) to that in the positive control samples. CIE L* values decreased as the amount of added egg shell calcium powder increased. CIE a* values were higher (p<0.05) in samples containing natural calcium powder (treatments 1, 2, 3, and 4) than in the positive control. The combination of oyster shell calcium powder and egg shell powder (treatment 2 or 3) was effective for the improvement of textural properties of the pork products. The findings show that the combined use of 0.2% oyster shell calcium and 0.3% egg shell calcium should enable the replacement of synthetic phosphate in the production of cooked pork products with desirable qualities. PMID:28943770

Egg Shell and Oyster Shell Powder as Alternatives for Synthetic Phosphate: Effects on the Quality of Cooked Ground Pork Products.

PubMed

Cho, Min Guk; Bae, Su Min; Jeong, Jong Youn

2017-01-01

This study aimed to determine the optimal ratio of natural calcium powders (oyster shell and egg shell calcium) as synthetic phosphate replacers in pork products. Ground pork samples were subjected to six treatments, as follows: control (-) (no phosphate added), control (+) (0.3% phosphate blend added), treatment 1 (0.5% oyster shell calcium powder added), treatment 2 (0.3% oyster shell calcium powder and 0.2% egg shell calcium powder added), treatment 3 (0.2% oyster shell calcium powder and 0.3% egg shell calcium powder added), and treatment 4 (0.5% egg shell calcium powder added). The addition of natural calcium powders resulted in an increase in the pH values of meat products, regardless of whether they were used individually or mixed. The highest cooking loss was observed ( p <0.05) in the negative control samples, whereas the cooking loss in samples with natural calcium powder added was similar ( p >0.05) to that in the positive control samples. CIE L* values decreased as the amount of added egg shell calcium powder increased. CIE a* values were higher ( p <0.05) in samples containing natural calcium powder (treatments 1, 2, 3, and 4) than in the positive control. The combination of oyster shell calcium powder and egg shell powder (treatment 2 or 3) was effective for the improvement of textural properties of the pork products. The findings show that the combined use of 0.2% oyster shell calcium and 0.3% egg shell calcium should enable the replacement of synthetic phosphate in the production of cooked pork products with desirable qualities.

Cockroach allergen reduction by cockroach control alone in low-income urban homes: a randomized control trial.

PubMed

Sever, Michelle L; Arbes, Samuel J; Gore, J Chad; Santangelo, Richard G; Vaughn, Ben; Mitchell, Herman; Schal, Coby; Zeldin, Darryl C

2007-10-01

We previously reported significant reductions in cockroach allergen concentrations in urban homes by reducing cockroach infestations. To determine the effectiveness of pest control performed by professional entomologists, compared with commercial companies, in reducing cockroach allergen. This 3-arm randomized controlled trial enrolled 60 cockroach-infested homes in North Carolina. Homes were randomly assigned to a control group or 1 of 2 treatment groups. Treatment 1 had insecticide baits placed by entomologists from North Carolina State University. Treatment 2 received pest control from a randomly assigned commercial company. Vacuumed dust sampling and cockroach trapping were conducted at 0, 6, and 12 months. Dust samples were analyzed by ELISA. In treatment 1 homes, there were significant reductions in geometric mean trap counts compared with control and treatment 2 homes at 12 months. Relative to control, significant 12-month reductions in Bla g 1 were evident in treatment 1 homes at all sampled sites, except bedroom floor. From baseline to month 12, geometric mean Bla g 1 concentrations (U/g) decreased from 64.2 to 5.6 in kitchen, 10.6 to 1.1 in living room, 10.7 to 1.9 on bedroom floor, and 3.6 to 2.3 in bed. Treatment 2 homes showed no significant 12-month allergen reductions versus control. Reductions in Bla g 1 in cockroach-infested homes can be achieved by reducing infestations; however, the magnitude of allergen reduction is dependent on the thoroughness and effectiveness of cockroach eradication efforts. Elimination of cockroaches is an effective method for reducing exposure to cockroach allergen.

Basophils, high-affinity IgE receptors, and CCL2 in human anaphylaxis.

PubMed

Korosec, Peter; Turner, Paul J; Silar, Mira; Kopac, Peter; Kosnik, Mitja; Gibbs, Bernhard F; Shamji, Mohamed H; Custovic, Adnan; Rijavec, Matija

2017-09-01

The role of basophils in anaphylaxis is unclear. We sought to investigate whether basophils have an important role in human anaphylaxis. In an emergency department study we recruited 31 patients with acute anaphylaxis, predominantly to Hymenoptera venom. We measured expression of basophil activation markers (CD63 and CD203c); the absolute number of circulating basophils; whole-blood FCER1A, carboxypeptidase A3 (CPA3), and L-histidine decarboxylase (HDC) gene expression; and serum markers (CCL2, CCL5, CCL11, IL-3, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin) at 3 time points (ie, during the anaphylactic episode and in convalescent samples 7 and 30 days later). We recruited 134 patients with Hymenoptera allergy and 76 healthy control subjects for comparison. We then investigated whether the changes observed during venom-related anaphylaxis also occur during allergic reactions to food in 22 patients with peanut allergy undergoing double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge to peanut. The number of circulating basophils was significantly lower during anaphylaxis (median, 3.5 cells/μL) than 7 and 30 days later (17.5 and 24.7 cells/μL, P < .0001) and compared with those in patients with venom allergy and healthy control subjects (21 and 23.4 cells/μL, P < .0001). FCER1A expression during anaphylaxis was also significantly lower than in convalescent samples (P ≤ .002) and control subjects with venom allergy (P < .0001). CCL2 levels (but not those of other serum markers) were significantly higher during anaphylaxis (median, 658 pg/mL) than in convalescent samples (314 and 311 pg/mL at 7 and 30 days, P < .001). Peanut-induced allergic reactions resulted in a significant decrease in circulating basophil counts compared with those in prechallenge samples (P = .016), a decrease in FCER1A expression (P = .007), and an increase in CCL2 levels (P = .003). Our findings imply an important and specific role for basophils in the pathophysiology of human anaphylaxis. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of a rapid method for measurement of catalase activity in cooked beef and sausage.

PubMed

Davis, C E; Cyrus, S

1998-02-01

Catalase (CAT) activity in ground beef and pork was determined on samples cooked from 60 to 71.1 degrees C. One-gram samples of ground round (4% fat), hamburger (24% fat), and commercial pork sausage (38%fat) were cooked in a controlled-temperature waterbath at 65, 68.3 and 71 degrees C. Chilled samples were immersed in direct contact with the cooking water; the test samples were removed every 15 s and immediately immersed in an ice-water bath (O to 1 degrees C) to quick-chill the samples to prevent temperature over-run. Samples retained high (HMB value 20+, over range) CAT activity through 90, 60, and 45 s at 65, 68.3, and 71 degrees C, respectively, before showing rapid activity decreases. Four USDA-FSIS approved meat patty heating processes (66.1 degrees C, 41 s; 67.2 degrees C, 26 s; 68.3 degrees C, 16 s; and 69.4 degrees C, 10 s) were analyzed for CAT activity in meat frozen prior to cooking was slightly lower (P < 0.05) than in degrees C meat. CAT activity decreased (P < 0.05) among meat treated at 66.1 degrees C for 41 s, at 67.2 degrees C for 26 s, and at 68.3 degrees C for 16 s, but the treatment at 68.3 degrees C for 16 s was not different (P < 0.05) from that at 69.4 degrees C for 10 s. These results show this rapid (20 to 25 min) CAT activity test could be used to establish activity values at specific end-point temperatures for model heat-processed ground beef or sausage products and may be useful to USDA FSIS process inspectors and food processors in quality assurance and HACCP (hazard analysis critical control points) programs for thermal input verification.

Characteristics of petroleum-contaminated groundwater during natural attenuation: a case study in northeast China.

PubMed

Qian, Hong; Zhang, Yuling; Wang, Jiali; Si, Chaoqun; Chen, Zaixing

2018-01-13

The objective of this study was to investigate a petroleum-contaminated groundwater site in northeast China. We determined the physicochemical properties of groundwater that contained total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) with a view to developing a scientifically robust strategy for controlling and remediating pollution of groundwater already contaminated with petroleum. Samples were collected at regular intervals and were analyzed for dissolved oxygen (DO), iron (Fe 3+ ), sulfate (SO 4 2- ), electrical conductivity (Eh), pH, hydrogen carbonate (HCO 3 - ), and enzyme activities of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (HRP), catechol 1,2-dioxygenase (C12O), and catechol 2,3-dioxygenase (C23O). We used factor analysis in SPSS to determine the main environmental characteristics of the groundwater samples. The results confirmed that the study site was slightly contaminated and that TPH levels were decreasing slightly. Some of the physicochemical variables showed regular fluctuations; DO, Fe 3+ , and SO 4 2- contents decreased gradually, while the concentrations of one of the microbial degradation products, HCO 3 - , increased. Microorganism enzyme activities decreased gradually. The microbiological community deteriorated noticeably during the natural attenuation process, so microbiological degradation of pollutants receded gradually. The HCO 3 - content increased and the pH and Eh decreased gradually. The groundwater environment tended to be reducing.

Oral Zinc Supplementation Decreases the Serum Iron Concentration in Healthy Schoolchildren: A Pilot Study

PubMed Central

de Brito, Naira Josele Neves; de Medeiros Rocha, Érika Dantas; de Araújo Silva, Alfredo; Costa, João Batista Sousa; França, Mardone Cavalcante; das Graças Almeida, Maria; Brandão-Neto, José

2014-01-01

The recognized antagonistic actions between zinc and iron prompted us to study this subject in children. A convenience sample was used. Thirty healthy children between 8 and 9 years of age were studied with the aim of establishing the effect of a 3-mo oral zinc supplementation on iron status. Fifteen individuals were given a placebo (control group), and 15 were given 10 mg Zn/day (experimental group). Blood samples were collected at 0, 60, 120, 180 and 210 min after a 12-h overnight fast, before and after placebo or zinc supplementation. This supplementation was associated with significant improvements in energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, fiber, calcium, iron, and zinc intake in accordance with the recommendations for age and sex. The basal serum zinc concentration significantly increased after oral zinc supplementation (p < 0.001). However, basal serum iron concentrations and area under the iron curves significantly decreased in the experimental group (p < 0.0001) and remained at the same level throughout the 210-min study. The values obtained for hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, ferritin, transferrin, transferrin saturation, ceruloplasmin and total protein were within normal reference ranges. In conclusion, the decrease in serum iron was likely due to the effects of chronic zinc administration, and the decrease in serum iron was not sufficient to cause anemia. PMID:25192026

Optimizing the multicycle subrotational internal cooling of diatomic molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aroch, A.; Kallush, S.; Kosloff, R.

2018-05-01

Subrotational cooling of the AlH+ ion to the miliKelvin regime, using optimally shaped pulses, is computed. The coherent electromagnetic fields induce purity-conserved transformations and do not change the sample temperature. A decrease in a sample temperature, manifested by an increase of purity, is achieved by the complementary uncontrolled spontaneous emission which changes the entropy of the system. We employ optimal control theory to find a pulse that stirs the system into a population configuration that will result in cooling, upon multicycle excitation-emission steps. The obtained optimal transformation was shown capable to cool molecular ions to the subkelvins regime.

Effect of α-Amylase, Papain, and Spermfluid treatments on viscosity and semen parameters of dromedary camel ejaculates.

PubMed

Monaco, Davide; Fatnassi, Meriem; Padalino, Barbara; Hammadi, Mohamed; Khorchani, Touhami; Lacalandra, Giovanni Michele

2016-04-01

Ejaculates from five clinically healthy dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) were used to evaluate the effects of different enzymatic treatments (Amylase, Papain, Spermfluid) on liquefaction and seminal parameters. After collection, ejaculates were divided into 5 aliquots: (1) kept undiluted (control); or diluted 1:1 with: (2) Tris-Citrate-Fructose (TCF), (3) TCF containing Amylase, (4) TCF containing Papain or (5) Spermfluid containing Bromelain. At 120 min after dilution, each aliquot was evaluated, at 20-min intervals, for viscosity, motility, viability and agglutination. Only the aliquots diluted with TCF containing Papain underwent complete liquefaction. Sperm motility decreased significantly during the observation times, except for the samples diluted with Spermfluid (P=0.005). Diluted samples showed different levels of agglutination, with the lowest being observed in the control and the highest in the Papain-treated samples. The viscosity of dromedary camel ejaculates could be effectively reduced by using the proteolytic enzyme Papain. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of ascorbic acid on storage of Greyhound erythrocytes.

PubMed

Fontes, Jorge A; Banerjee, Uddyalok; Iazbik, M Cristina; Marín, Liliana M; Couto, C Guillermo; Palmer, Andre F

2015-09-01

To assess changes in biochemical and biophysical properties of canine RBCs during cold (1° to 6°C) storage in a licensed RBC additive solution (the RBC preservation solution designated AS-1) supplemented with ascorbic acid. Blood samples from 7 neutered male Greyhounds; all dogs had negative results when tested for dog erythrocyte antigen 1.1. Blood was collected into citrate-phosphate-dextrose and stored in AS-1. Stored RBCs were supplemented with 7.1mM ascorbic acid or with saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (control samples). Several biochemical and biophysical properties of RBCs were measured, including percentage hemolysis, oxygen-hemoglobin equilibrium, and the kinetic rate constants for O2 dissociation, carbon monoxide association, and nitric oxide dioxygenation. Greyhound RBCs stored in AS-1 supplemented with ascorbic acid did not have significantly decreased hemolysis, compared with results for the control samples, during the storage period. In this study, ascorbic acid did not reduce hemolysis during storage. Several changes in stored canine RBCs were identified as part of the hypothermic storage lesion.

Effects of prolonged physical exercise and fasting upon plasma testosterone level in rats.

PubMed

Guezennec, C Y; Ferre, P; Serrurier, B; Merino, D; Pesquies, P C

1982-01-01

Prolonged physical exercise and fasting in male rats were studied to determine the effect of these two treatments on plasma testosterone level. Blood and tissue samples were drawn after 1 h, 3 h, 5 h, and 7 h treadmill running, and after 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h of fasting. Both treatments resulted in a significant fall in plasma testosterone, plasma luteinizing hormone (LH), plasma Insulin (IRI) and in liver and muscle glycogen stores. In the course of these two treatments the injection of a supra maximal dose of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) produced a rise in plasma testosterone similar to that in control rats. This indicates that the decrease of plasma LH may be responsible for the decrease in plasma testosterone, which is time-related with the decrease in glycogen stores. The possible metabolic role of the decrease in plasma testosterone is discussed.

Control of Tinea Pedis in a Swimming Bath

PubMed Central

Gentles, J. C.; Evans, E. G. V.; Jones, G. R.

1974-01-01

Random samples of the weekly entry of bathers to a swimming pool were examined for tinea pedis and verruca before and at intervals after the supply of individual sachets of foot powder to all bathers. Over three and a half years the overall incidence of tinea pedis decreased from 8·5% to 2·1%, and in adult males it decreased from 21·5% to 6·9%. The incidence of infection with Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. interdigitale decreased from 5·3% to 0·5%, and the incidence of infection with T. rubrum (1·2%-1·1%) and Epidermophyton floccosum (0·9%-0·5%) did not change significantly. The incidence of verruca decreased from 4·8% to 1·2%. Issuing foot powder clearly minimizes the spread of infection and is recommended for general use. PMID:4833961

Optimization of Control Points Number at Coordinate Measurements based on the Monte-Carlo Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korolev, A. A.; Kochetkov, A. V.; Zakharov, O. V.

2018-01-01

Improving the quality of products causes an increase in the requirements for the accuracy of the dimensions and shape of the surfaces of the workpieces. This, in turn, raises the requirements for accuracy and productivity of measuring of the workpieces. The use of coordinate measuring machines is currently the most effective measuring tool for solving similar problems. The article proposes a method for optimizing the number of control points using Monte Carlo simulation. Based on the measurement of a small sample from batches of workpieces, statistical modeling is performed, which allows one to obtain interval estimates of the measurement error. This approach is demonstrated by examples of applications for flatness, cylindricity and sphericity. Four options of uniform and uneven arrangement of control points are considered and their comparison is given. It is revealed that when the number of control points decreases, the arithmetic mean decreases, the standard deviation of the measurement error increases and the probability of the measurement α-error increases. In general, it has been established that it is possible to repeatedly reduce the number of control points while maintaining the required measurement accuracy.

The effectiveness of an emotion-focused educational programme in reducing diabetes distress in adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (VEMOFIT): a cluster randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Chew, B H; Vos, R C; Stellato, R K; Ismail, M; Rutten, G E H M

2018-06-01

To evaluate the effectiveness of a brief, value-based emotion-focused educational programme (VEMOFIT) in Malay adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus compared with a programme of active listening to participants' emotional experiences, social support and their opinion on the health clinic diabetes care services (attention control). Malay adults with severe diabetes distress [Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS-17) mean score ≥ 3] were included. VEMOFIT consisted of four biweekly group sessions, a booster session after 3 months and a follow-up 6 months post intervention. The attention control programme consisted of three sessions over the same period. Outcomes included diabetes distress, depressive symptoms, self-efficacy and disease control. Required total sample size was 165. Participants (n = 124) were randomized to either VEMOFIT (n = 53) or the attention control programme (n = 71). Participants had a mean (sd) age of 55.7 (9.7) years, median diabetes duration of 7.0 (8.0) years and mean HbA 1c level of 82 mmol/mol (9.7%). The mean DDS-17 level decreased significantly in both the VEMOFIT and the attention control programmes (3.4 to 2.9 vs. 3.1 to 2.7, respectively). The adjusted between-group DDS-17 difference was not significant [-0.01, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.38, 0.35]. The proportion of individuals with severe diabetes distress decreased in both groups, from 89% to 47% vs. 69% to 39% (odds ratio 0.88; 95% CI 0.26, 2.90). Other outcomes did not differ between groups. Both interventions decreased diabetes distress significantly. The theory-based VEMOFIT programme was not superior to the attention control programme. The latter approach is a simpler way to decrease severe diabetes distress (Trial registration: NCT02730078; NMRR-15-1144-24803). © 2018 Diabetes UK.

Unlabeled oligonucleotides as internal temperature controls for genotyping by amplicon melting.

PubMed

Seipp, Michael T; Durtschi, Jacob D; Liew, Michael A; Williams, Jamie; Damjanovich, Kristy; Pont-Kingdon, Genevieve; Lyon, Elaine; Voelkerding, Karl V; Wittwer, Carl T

2007-07-01

Amplicon melting is a closed-tube method for genotyping that does not require probes, real-time analysis, or allele-specific polymerase chain reaction. However, correct differentiation of homozygous mutant and wild-type samples by melting temperature (Tm) requires high-resolution melting and closely controlled reaction conditions. When three different DNA extraction methods were used to isolate DNA from whole blood, amplicon Tm differences of 0.03 to 0.39 degrees C attributable to the extractions were observed. To correct for solution chemistry differences between samples, complementary unlabeled oligonucleotides were included as internal temperature controls to shift and scale the temperature axis of derivative melting plots. This adjustment was applied to a duplex amplicon melting assay for the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase variants 1298A>C and 677C>T. High- and low-temperature controls bracketing the amplicon melting region decreased the Tm SD within homozygous genotypes by 47 to 82%. The amplicon melting assay was 100% concordant to an adjacent hybridization probe (HybProbe) melting assay when temperature controls were included, whereas a 3% error rate was observed without temperature correction. In conclusion, internal temperature controls increase the accuracy of genotyping by high-resolution amplicon melting and should also improve results on lower resolution instruments.

A new approach for freezing of aqueous solutions under active control of the nucleation temperature.

PubMed

Petersen, Ansgar; Schneider, Hendrik; Rau, Guenter; Glasmacher, Birgit

2006-10-01

An experimental setup for controlled freezing of aqueous solutions is introduced. The special feature is a mechanism to actively control the nucleation temperature via electrofreezing: an ice nucleus generated at a platinum electrode by the application of an electric high voltage pulse initiates the crystallization of the sample. Using electrofreezing, the nucleation temperature in pure water can be precisely adjusted to a desired value over the whole temperature range between a maximum temperature Tn(max) close to the melting point and the temperature of spontaneous nucleation. However, the presence of additives can inhibit the nucleus formation. The influence of hydroxyethylstarch (HES), glucose, glycerol, additives commonly used in cryobiology, and NaCl on Tn(max) were investigated. While the decrease showed to be moderate for the non-ionic additives, the hindrance of nucleation by ionic NaCl makes the direct application of electrofreezing in solutions with physiological salt concentrations impossible. Therefore, in the multi-sample freezing device presented in this paper, the ice nucleus is produced in a separate volume of pure water inside an electrode cap. This way, the nucleus formation becomes independent of the sample composition. Using electrofreezing rather than conventional seeding methods allows automated freezing of many samples under equal conditions. Experiments performed with model solutions show the reliability and repeatability of this method to start crystallization in the test samples at different specified temperatures. The setup was designed to freeze samples of small volume for basic investigations in the field of cryopreservation and freeze-drying, but the mode of operation might be interesting for many other applications where a controlled nucleation of aqueous solutions is of importance.

Liquid balance monitoring inside conventional, Retrofit, and bio-reactor landfill cells.

PubMed

Abichou, Tarek; Barlaz, Morton A; Green, Roger; Hater, Gary

2013-10-01

The Outer Loop landfill bioreactor (OLLB) in Louisville, KY, USA has been the site of a study to evaluate long-term bioreactor performance at a full-scale operational landfill. Three types of landfill units were studied including a conventional landfill (Control cell), a new landfill area that had an air addition and recirculation piping network installed as waste was being placed (As-Built cell), and a conventional landfill that was modified to allow for liquids recirculation (Retrofit cell). During the monitoring period, the Retrofit, Control, and As-Built cells received 48, 14, and 213LMg(-1) (liters of liquids per metric ton of waste), respectively. The leachate collection system yielded 60, 57 and 198LMg(-1) from the Retrofit, Control, and As-Built cells, respectively. The head on liner in all cells was below regulatory limits. In the Control and As-Built cells, leachate head on liner decreased once waste placement stopped. The measured moisture content of the waste samples was consistent with that calculated from the estimate of accumulated liquid by the liquid balance. Additionally, measurements on excavated solid waste samples revealed large spatial variability in waste moisture content. The degree of saturation in the Control cells decreased from 85% to 75%. The degree of saturation increased from 82% to 83% due to liquids addition in the Retrofit cells and decreased back to 80% once liquid addition stopped. In the As-Built cells, the degree of saturation increased from 87% to 97% during filling activities and then started to decrease soon after filling activities stopped to reach 92% at the end of the monitoring period. The measured leachate generation rates were used to estimate an in-place saturated hydraulic conductivity of the MSW in the range of 10(-8) to 10(-7)ms(-1) which is lower than previous reports. In the Control and Retrofit cells, the net loss in liquids, 43 and 12LMg(-1), respectively, was similar to the measured settlement of 15% and 5-8% strain, respectively (Abichou et al., 2013). The increase in net liquid volume in the As-Built cells indicates that the 37% (average) measured settlement strain in these cells cannot be due to consolidation as the waste mass did not lose any moisture but rather suggests that settlement was attributable to lubrication of waste particle contacts, softening of flexible porous materials, and additional biological degradation. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Endothelial and kidney function in women with a history of preeclampsia and healthy parous controls: A case control study.

PubMed

Lopes van Balen, Veronica A; Spaan, Julia J; Cornelis, Tom; Heidema, Wieteke M; Scholten, Ralph R; Spaanderman, Marc E A

2018-03-01

Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy related endothelial disease characterized by hypertension and albuminuria. Postpartum endothelial dysfunction often persists in these women. We postulate that in women with a history of PE reduced endothelial dependent vasodilation coincides with attenuated kidney function, as both reflect endothelial dysfunction. We assessed endothelial and kidney function in women with a history of PE (n=79) and uncomplicated pregnancies (n=49) at least 4years postpartum. Women with hypertension, diabetes or kidney disease prior to pregnancy were excluded. Brachial artery flow mediated dilatation (FMD) was measured and analysed by a custom designed edge-detection and wall-tracking software. We measured albumin and creatinine levels in a 24-h urine sample and calculated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by CKD-EPI. Women with a history of PE had lower FMD but comparable GFR and albumin creatinine ratio (ACR) compared with controls. Independent of obstetric history, in both controls and women with a history of PE respectively, GFR (r=0.19, p=0.17 and r=0.12, p=0.29) and albumin creatinine ratio (r=0.07, p=0.62 and r=0.06 p=0.57) did not correlate with FMD. At least 4years after pregnancy, women with a history of PE demonstrated decreased flow mediated dilatation when compared to healthy parous controls. In this study, decreased flow mediated dilation however did not coincide with decreased kidney function. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Structural imaging of the brain reveals decreased total brain and total gray matter volumes in obese but not in lean women with polycystic ovary syndrome compared to body mass index-matched counterparts.

PubMed

Ozgen Saydam, Basak; Has, Arzu Ceylan; Bozdag, Gurkan; Oguz, Kader Karli; Yildiz, Bulent Okan

2017-07-01

To detect differences in global brain volumes and identify relations between brain volume and appetite-related hormones in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) compared to body mass index-matched controls. Forty subjects participated in this study. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging and measurements of fasting ghrelin, leptin and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), as well as GLP-1 levels during mixed-meal tolerance test (MTT), were performed. Total brain volume and total gray matter volume (GMV) were decreased in obese PCOS compared to obese controls (p < 0.05 for both) whereas lean PCOS and controls did not show a significant difference. Secondary analyses of regional brain volumes showed decreases in GMV of the caudate nucleus, ventral diencephalon and hippocampus in obese PCOS compared to obese controls (p < 0.05 for all), whereas lean patients with PCOS had lower GMV in the amygdala than lean controls (p < 0.05). No significant relations were detected between structural differences and measured hormone levels at baseline or during MTT. This study, investigating structural brain alterations in PCOS, suggests volumetric reductions in global brain areas in obese women with PCOS. Functional studies with larger sample size are needed to determine physiopathological roles of these changes and potential effects of long-term medical management on brain structure of PCOS.

A Prospective, Randomized Trial in the Emergency Department of Suggestive Audio-Therapy under Deep Sedation for Smoking Cessation.

PubMed

Rodriguez, Robert M; Taylor, Opal; Shah, Sushma; Urstein, Susan

2007-08-01

In a sample of patients undergoing procedural deep sedation in the emergency department (ED), we conducted a prospective, randomized, single-blinded trial of audio-therapy for smoking cessation. We asked subjects about their smoking, including desire to quit (0-10 numerical scale) and number of cigarettes smoked per day. Subjects were randomized to either a control tape (music alone) or a tape with repeated smoking-cessation messages over music. Tapes were started with first doses of sedation and stopped with patient arousal. Telephone follow-up occurred between two weeks and three months to assess the number of cigarettes smoked per day. Study endpoints were self-reported complete cessation and decrease of half or more in total cigarettes smoked per day. One hundred eleven patients were enrolled in the study, 54 to intervention and 57 to control. Mean desire to quit was 7.15 +/- 2.6 and mean cigarettes per day was 17.5 +/- 12.1. We successfully contacted 69 (62%) patients. Twenty-seven percent of intervention and 26% of control patients quit (mean difference = 1%; 95% CI: -22.0% to 18.8%). Thirty-seven percent of intervention and 51% of control patients decreased smoking by half or more (mean difference = 14.6%; 95% CI: -8.7% to 35.6%). Suggestive audio-therapy delivered during deep sedation in the ED did not significantly decrease self-reported smoking behavior.

Effect of Thyme and Rosemary on The Quality Characteristics, Shelf-life, and Residual Nitrite Content of Sausages During Cold Storage.

PubMed

Jin, Sang Keun; Choi, Jung Seok; Lee, Seung Jae; Lee, Seung Yun; Hur, Sun Jin

2016-10-31

The effects of thyme and rosemary on the quality characteristics of sausages during cold storage were investigated. Sausages were prepared with thyme and rosemary powder (1 and 2%) and stored for 6 weeks at 10℃. The pH was significantly decreased in sausages by addition of thyme and rosemary compared to that observed in the control before and after storage. At 4 weeks of storage, the residual nitrite content was decreased by thyme and rosemary compared to the control. Lightness (L*) and yellowness (b*) were increased during storage, whereas redness (a*) and whiteness (W) were decreased before and after storage by addition of thyme and rosemary. The amount of TPC and lactic acid bacteria was lower at the end of storage in sausage containing thyme and rosemary. The 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity of sausages was increased by addition of thyme and rosemary compared to that in the control before and after storage. In particular, T2 (0.2% thyme addition) showed the highest DPPH radical scavenging capacity during storage. In a sensory evaluation, flavor and overall acceptability were lower in sausages containing thyme and rosemary than in the control. However, at the end of storage (6 wk), aroma, flavor and overall acceptability were not significantly different among the sausage samples.

Effect of Thyme and Rosemary on The Quality Characteristics, Shelf-life, and Residual Nitrite Content of Sausages During Cold Storage

PubMed Central

Jin, Sang Keun; Choi, Jung Seok; Lee, Seung Jae

2016-01-01

The effects of thyme and rosemary on the quality characteristics of sausages during cold storage were investigated. Sausages were prepared with thyme and rosemary powder (1 and 2%) and stored for 6 weeks at 10℃. The pH was significantly decreased in sausages by addition of thyme and rosemary compared to that observed in the control before and after storage. At 4 weeks of storage, the residual nitrite content was decreased by thyme and rosemary compared to the control. Lightness (L*) and yellowness (b*) were increased during storage, whereas redness (a*) and whiteness (W) were decreased before and after storage by addition of thyme and rosemary. The amount of TPC and lactic acid bacteria was lower at the end of storage in sausage containing thyme and rosemary. The 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity of sausages was increased by addition of thyme and rosemary compared to that in the control before and after storage. In particular, T2 (0.2% thyme addition) showed the highest DPPH radical scavenging capacity during storage. In a sensory evaluation, flavor and overall acceptability were lower in sausages containing thyme and rosemary than in the control. However, at the end of storage (6 wk), aroma, flavor and overall acceptability were not significantly different among the sausage samples. PMID:27857542

Genital region cleansing wipes: Effects on urine culture contamination.

PubMed

Selek, Mehmet Burak; Bektöre, Bayhan; Sezer, Ogün; Kula Atik, Tuğba; Baylan, Orhan; Özyurt, Mustafa

2017-01-30

Urine culture is the gold standard test for revealing the microbial agent causing urinary tract infection (UTI). Culture results are affected by sampling techniques; improper sampling leads to contamination of urine and thus contamination of the culture with urogenital flora. We aimed to evaluate the effect of urogenital cleansing, performed with chlorhexidine-containing genital region cleansing wipes (GRCW) on contamination rates. A total of 2,665 patients with UTI-related complaints and with urine culture requests from various outpatient clinics were enrolled in the study. Of the patients, 1,609 in the experimental group used GRCW before sampling, while 1,046 in the control group did not use any wipes. The contamination rate in the experimental group patients was 7.7%, while it was 15.8% in the control group. Contamination rates were significantly higher in the control group than in the experimental group for both women and men. Contamination rates for children and adults were also significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group. Our study, conducted in a large population, showed that the use of chlorhexidine-containing cleansing wipes significantly reduced urine culture contamination rates in both genders, in both child and adult age groups. Using GRCW, collection of urine after urogenital area cleansing will decrease the contamination problem.

Plasma antibodies to Abeta40 and Abeta42 in patients with Alzheimer's disease and normal controls.

PubMed

Xu, Wuhua; Kawarabayashi, Takeshi; Matsubara, Etsuro; Deguchi, Kentaro; Murakami, Tetsuro; Harigaya, Yasuo; Ikeda, Masaki; Amari, Masakuni; Kuwano, Ryozo; Abe, Koji; Shoji, Mikio

2008-07-11

Antibodies to amyloid beta protein (Abeta) are present naturally or after Abeta vaccine therapy in human plasma. To clarify their clinical role, we examined plasma samples from 113 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 205 normal controls using the tissue amyloid plaque immunoreactivity (TAPIR) assay. A high positive rate of TAPIR was revealed in AD (45.1%) and age-matched controls (41.2%), however, no significance was observed. No significant difference was observed in the MMS score or disease duration between TAPIR-positive and negative samples. TAPIR-positive plasma reacted with the Abeta40 monomer and dimer, and the Abeta42 monomer weakly, but not with the Abeta42 dimer. TAPIR was even detected in samples from young normal subjects and young Tg2576 transgenic mice. Although the Abeta40 level and Abeta40/42 ratio increased, and Abeta42 was significantly decreased in plasma from AD groups when compared to controls, no significant correlations were revealed between plasma Abeta levels and TAPIR grading. Thus an immune response to Abeta40 and immune tolerance to Abeta42 occurred naturally in humans without a close relationship to the Abeta burden in the brain. Clarification of the mechanism of the immune response to Abeta42 is necessary for realization of an immunotherapy for AD.

Amygdala habituation and prefrontal functional connectivity in youth with autism spectrum disorders.

PubMed

Swartz, Johnna R; Wiggins, Jillian Lee; Carrasco, Melisa; Lord, Catherine; Monk, Christopher S

2013-01-01

Amygdala habituation, the rapid decrease in amygdala responsiveness to the repeated presentation of stimuli, is fundamental to the nervous system. Habituation is important for maintaining adaptive levels of arousal to predictable social stimuli and decreased habituation is associated with heightened anxiety. Input from the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) regulates amygdala activity. Although previous research has shown abnormal amygdala function in youth with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), no study has examined amygdala habituation in a young sample or whether habituation is related to amygdala connectivity with the vmPFC. Data were analyzed from 32 children and adolescents with ASD and 56 typically developing controls who underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while performing a gender identification task for faces that were fearful, happy, sad, or neutral. Habituation was tested by comparing amygdala activation to faces during the first half versus the second half of the session. VmPFC-amygdala connectivity was examined through psychophysiologic interaction analysis. Youth with ASD had decreased amygdala habituation to sad and neutral faces compared with controls. Moreover, decreased amygdala habituation correlated with autism severity as measured by the Social Responsiveness Scale. There was a group difference in vmPFC-amygdala connectivity while viewing sad faces, and connectivity predicted amygdala habituation to sad faces in controls. Sustained amygdala activation to faces suggests that repeated face presentations are processed differently in individuals with ASD, which could contribute to social impairments. Abnormal modulation of the amygdala by the vmPFC may play a role in decreased habituation. Copyright © 2013 American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

[Standardization of cryopreservation process of Saccharomyces boulardii yeasts for usage in collections and banks of industrial microorganism strains].

PubMed

Gurina, T M; Vysekantsev, I P; Babinets, O M

2013-01-01

New implementation principle of freeze-thawing during cryopreservation of microorganisms, initiation of the process of crystal formation at cooling and thawing stage with the controlled rate of heating was experimentally substantiated. This allows increasing the cell viability, guaranteeing their equal number in each preparation, decreasing the contamination risk of the samples at thawing stage.

Antigenicity of mesenchymal stem cells in an inflamed joint environment.

PubMed

Hill, Jacqueline A; Cassano, Jennifer M; Goodale, Margaret B; Fortier, Lisa A

2017-07-01

OBJECTIVE To determine whether major histocompatability complex (MHC) class II expression in equine mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) changes with exposure to a proinflammatory environment reflective of an inflamed joint. SAMPLE Cryopreserved bone marrow-derived MSCs from 12 horses and cartilage and synovium samples from 1 horse euthanized for reasons other than lameness. PROCEDURES In part 1 of a 3-part study, the suitability of a quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) assay for measurement of MHC class II expression in MSCs following stimulation with interferon (IFN)-γ was assessed. In part 2, synoviocyte-cartilage cocultures were or were not stimulated with interleukin (IL)-1β (10 ng/mL) to generate conditioned media that did and did not (control) mimic an inflamed joint environment. In part 3, a qRT-PCR assay was used to measure MSC MHC class II expression after 96 hours of incubation with 1 of 6 treatments (control-conditioned medium, IL-1β-conditioned medium, and MSC medium alone [untreated control] or with IL-1β [10 ng/mL], tumor necrosis factor-α [10 ng/mL], or IFN-γ [100 ng/mL]). RESULTS The qRT-PCR assay accurately measured MHC class II expression. Compared with MHC class II expression for MSCs exposed to the untreated control medium, that for MSCs exposed to IL-1β was decreased, whereas that for MSCs exposed to IFN-γ was increased. Neither the control-conditioned nor tumor necrosis factor-α medium altered MHC class II expression. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that MSC exposure to proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β decreased MHC class II expression and antigenicity. Treatment of inflamed joints with allogeneic MSCs might not be contraindicated, but further investigation is warranted.

Milk thistle and indinavir: a randomized controlled pharmacokinetics study and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Mills, Edward; Wilson, Kumanan; Clarke, Mike; Foster, Brian; Walker, Scott; Rachlis, Beth; DeGroot, Nick; Montori, Victor M; Gold, Wayne; Phillips, Elizabeth; Myers, Stephen; Gallicano, Keith

2005-03-01

To determine whether ingestion of milk thistle affects the pharmacokinetics of indinavir. We conducted a three-period, randomized controlled trial with 16 healthy participants. We randomized participants to milk thistle or control. All participants received initial dosing of indinavir, and baseline indinavir levels were obtained (AUC(0-8)) (phase I). The active group were then given 450 mg milk-thistle extract capsules to be taken t.i.d. from day 2 to day 30. The control group received no plant extract. On day 29 and day 30, indinavir dosing and sampling was repeated in both groups as before (phase II). After a wash-out period of 7 days, indinavir dosing and sampling were repeated as before (phase III). All participants completed the trial, but two were excluded from analysis due to protocol violation. There were no significant between-group differences. Active group mean AUC(0-8) indinavir decreased by 4.4% (90% CI, -27.5% to -26%, P=0.78) from phase I to phase II in the active group, and by 17.3% (90% CI, -37.3% to +9%, P=0.25) in phase III. Control group mean AUC(0-8) decreased by 21.5% (90% CI, -43% to +8%, P=0.2) from phase I to phase II and by 38.5% (90% CI, -55.3% to -15.3%, P=0.01) of baseline at phase III. To place our findings in context, milk thistle-indinavir trials were identified through systematic searches of the literature. A meta-analysis of three milk thistle-indinavir trials revealed a non-significant pooled mean difference of 1% in AUC(0-8) (95% CI, -53% to 55%, P=0.97). Indinavir levels were not reduced significantly in the presence of milk thistle.

Impact of Tumour Epithelial Subtype on Circulating microRNAs in Breast Cancer Patients

PubMed Central

Brougham, Cathy; Glynn, Claire L.; Wall, Deirdre; Hyland, Peter; Duignan, Maria; McLoughlin, Mark; Newell, John; Kerin, Michael J.

2014-01-01

While a range of miRNAs have been shown to be dysregulated in the circulation of patients with breast cancer, little is known about the relationship between circulating levels and tumour characteristics. The aim of this study was to analyse alterations in circulating miRNA expression during tumour progression in a murine model of breast cancer, and to detemine the clinical relevance of identified miRNAs at both tissue and circulating level in patient samples. Athymic nude mice received a subcutaneous or mammary fat pad injection of MDA-MB-231 cells. Blood sampling was performed at weeks 1, 3 and 6 following tumour induction, and microRNA extracted. MicroRNA microArray analysis was performed comparing samples harvested at week 1 to those collected at week 6 from the same animals. Significantly altered miRNAs were validated across all murine samples by RQ-PCR (n = 45). Three miRNAs of interest were then quantified in the circulation(n = 166) and tissue (n = 100) of breast cancer patients and healthy control individuals. MicroArray-based analysis of murine blood samples revealed levels of 77 circulating microRNAs to be changed during disease progression, with 44 demonstrating changes >2-fold. Validation across all samples revealed miR-138 to be significantly elevated in the circulation of animals during disease development, with miR-191 and miR-106a levels significantly decreased. Analysis of patient tissue and blood samples revealed miR-138 to be significantly up-regulated in the circulation of patients with breast cancer, with no change observed in the tissue setting. While not significantly changed overall in breast cancer patients compared to controls, circulating miR-106a and miR-191 were significantly decreased in patients with basal breast cancer. In tissue, both miRNAs were significantly elevated in breast cancer compared to normal breast tissue. The data demonstrates an impact of tumour epithelial subtype on circulating levels of miRNAs, and highlights divergent miRNA profiles between tissue and blood samples from breast cancer patients. PMID:24626163

Enhanced Control of Listeria monocytogenes by Enterococcus faecium KE82, a Multiple Enterocin-Producing Strain, in Different Milk Environments.

PubMed

Vandera, Elpiniki; Lianou, Alexandra; Kakouri, Athanasia; Feng, Jinbo; Koukkou, Anna-Irini; Samelis, John

2017-01-01

Enterococcus faecium KE82, isolated from traditional Greek Graviera cheese, was identified in pure broth cultures in vitro as a multiple enterocin-producing bacterial strain possessing the structural entA, entB, and entP enterocin genes. E. faecium KE82 was further assessed for in situ antilisterial activity in raw milk (RM) and commercially thermized milk (TM; 63°C for 30 s) in the presence of the indigenous microbiota and in sterile raw milk (SRM; 121°C for 5 min) with or without the addition of two commercial starter culture (CSC) strains Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactococcus lactis . Growth of Listeria monocytogenes was completely inhibited in RM incubated at 37°C for 6 h, whereas the pathogen was significantly inactivated in RM+KE82 samples during further incubation at 18°C for 66 h. In contrast, L. monocytogenes levels increased by approximately 2 log CFU/ml in TM, but in TM+KE82 samples, pathogen growth was retarded during the first 6 h at 37°C followed by growth cessation and partial inactivation at 18°C. After 48 to 72 h, growth of L. monocytogenes in SRM+CSC samples decreased by 4 to 5 log CFU/ml compared with the SRM control, whereas additional 10-fold decreases in the pathogen were observed in SRM+CSC+KE82 samples. Reverse transcription PCR analysis of SRM+KE82 and SRM+CSC+KE82 samples confirmed that the entA and entB genes were transcribed, but entP gene transcription was not detected. All RM and SRM samples inoculated with E. faecium KE82 displayed strong in situ inhibitory activity against L. monocytogenes in well diffusion bioassays, whereas activity was weaker to undetectable in comparable or additional TM+KE82 samples; no milk sample without E. faecium KE82 had activity against L. monocytogenes . The findings of this study indicate that E. faecium KE82 is an antilisterial agent that could be used in traditional dairy foods because it concomitantly produces enterocins A and B in situ in milk.

Effects of Oral Prednisone Administration on Serum Cystatin C in Dogs.

PubMed

Muñoz, J; Soblechero, P; Duque, F J; Macías-García, B; Ruiz, P; Zaragoza, C; Barrera, R

2017-11-01

Oral administration of glucocorticoid alters serum cystatin C (sCysC) concentration in humans. To determine if oral administration of prednisone alters sCysC in dogs without pre-existing renal disease. Forty six dogs were included: 10 dogs diagnosed with steroid responsive meningitis arteritis (SRMA; group A), 20 dogs diagnosed of pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH; group B), and 16 healthy control dogs (group C). Retrospective observational study. SRMA diagnosed dogs were administered prednisone 4 mg/kg/24 h PO 7 days, reducing the dose to 2 mg/kg/24 h 7 days before medication withdrawal. In group A, sampling was performed at days 0, 7, 14 and a final control at day 21. Blood and urine samples were collected in the 3 groups, and in group A, sampling was performed at all time points (days 1, 7, 14, and 21). In group A, sCysC was significantly higher at day 7 compared to the control group (0.4 ± 0.04 mg/L vs. 0.18 ± 0.03 mg/L mean ± SEM respectively P < 0.01); sCysC values decreased to basal at day 14 when the dose was decreased and after 1 week of withdrawal of prednisone (0.27 ± 0.03 mg/L for group A at day 14 and 0.15 ± 0.02 mg/L at day 21; P > 0.05). Dogs with PDH included in group B did not have significant differences in sCysC (0.22 ± 0.03 mg/L) compared to control (P > 0.05). Oral administration of prednisone unlike altered endogenous glucocorticoid production, increases sCysC in dogs in a dose-dependent fashion. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Use of poultry protein isolate as a food ingredient: sensory and color characteristics of low-fat Turkey bologna.

PubMed

Omana, Dileep A; Pietrasik, Zeb; Betti, Mirko

2012-07-01

The potential of using poultry protein isolate (PPI) as a food ingredient to substitute either soy protein isolate (SPI) or meat protein in turkey bologna was investigated. PPI was prepared from mechanically separated turkey meat using pH-shift technology and the prepared PPI was added to turkey bologna at 2 different concentrations (1.5% and 2% dry weight basis). Product characteristics were compared with those prepared with the addition of 2% SPI, 11% meat protein (control-1), or 13% meat protein (control-2). All the 5 treatments were subjected to sensory analysis to evaluate aroma, appearance, color, flavor, saltiness, juiciness, firmness, and overall acceptability of the turkey bologna samples using 9-point hedonic scales. A turkey bologna control sample with 11% meat protein appeared to be softer compared to other treatments as revealed by texture profile analysis while purge loss during storage in a retail display case was significantly (P < 0.05) higher compared to other treatments. Lightness (L*) value of the products decreased during 4 wk of retail storage. A turkey bologna control sample with 13% meat protein appeared to be darker and more reddish compared to other treatments. Replacing meat protein with protein isolates caused increase in yellowish color of turkey bologna. Sensory analysis concluded that 1.5% PPI and 2% PPI could be used as substitute of SPI or lean meat and the treatments could be improved by increasing saltiness and decreasing firmness. The study revealed that with slight modifications in saltiness, turkey bologna can be prepared with the addition of poultry protein isolates as an acceptable substitute for soy protein isolate or meat protein. This will help to avoid usage of nonmeat ingredients (as SPI substitute) and to reduce the cost of production (as meat protein substitute) of low-fat turkey bologna. © 2012 Institute of Food Technologists®

Emotional impact of a video-based suicide prevention program on suicidal viewers and suicide survivors.

PubMed

Bryan, Craig J; Dhillon-Davis, Luther E; Dhillon-Davis, Kieran K

2009-12-01

In light of continuing concerns about iatrogenic effects associated with suicide prevention efforts utilizing video-based media, the impact of emotionally-charged videos on two vulnerable subgroups--suicidal viewers and suicide survivors--was explored. Following participation in routine suicide education as a part of the U.S. Air Force Suicide Prevention Program's video-based community briefing, a sample of young active duty airmen demonstrated small decreases in positive emotional states and larger decreases in negative emotional states, especially among suicidal females. No evidence of iatrogenic effects were observed among suicidal or survivor subgroups when compared to controls. Results support the use of video-based media as a safe educational strategy that might actually serve to decrease emotional distress among vulnerable subgroups.

A Simple “Blood-Saving Bundle” Reduces Diagnostic Blood Loss and the Transfusion Rate in Mechanically Ventilated Patients

PubMed Central

Riessen, Reimer; Behmenburg, Melanie; Blumenstock, Gunnar; Guenon, Doris; Enkel, Sigrid; Schäfer, Richard; Haap, Michael

2015-01-01

Introduction Aim of this study was to reduce blood loss caused by diagnostic blood sampling and to minimize the development of anemia in a high-risk group of mechanically ventilated medical intensive care patients. We therefore implemented a “blood-saving bundle” (BSB) combining a closed-loop arterial blood sampling system, smaller sampling tubes, reduced frequency of blood drawings, and reduced sample numbers. Methods The study included all patients from our medical ICU who were ventilated for more than 72 hours. Exclusion criteria were: acute or chronic anemia on admission, bleeding episode(s) during the ICU stay, or end-of-life therapy. The BSB was introduced in 2009 with training and educational support. Patients treated in 2008, before the introduction of the BSB, served as a control group (n = 41, 617 observation days), and were compared with patients treated in 2010 after the introduction of the BSB (BSB group, n = 50, 559 observation days). Primary endpoints were blood loss per day, and development of anemia. Secondary endpoints were numbers of blood transfusions, number of days on mechanical ventilation, and length of the ICU stay. Results Mean blood loss per ICU day was decreased from 43.3 ml (95% CI: 41.2 to 45.3 ml) in the controls to 15.0 ml (14.3 to 15.7 ml) in the BSB group (P < 0.001). The introduction of a closed-loop arterial blood sampling system was the major contributor to this effect. Mean hemoglobin concentrations showed no significant differences in both groups during the ICU stay. Hemoglobin values <9 g/dl, however, were recorded in 21.2% of observation days in the controls versus 15.4% in the BSB group (P = 0.01). Units of transfused red blood cells per 100 observation days decreased from 7 to 2.3 (P < 0.001). The mean number of ventilation days was 7.1 days (6.1 to 8.3 days) in the controls and 7.5 days (6.6 to 8.5 days) in the BSB group (P = NS). In total, patients in the BSB group stayed in ICU for a mean of 9.9 days (8.6 to 11.3 days), compared to a mean ICU stay of 13.0 days (10.9 to 15.4 days) in the control group (P = 0.014). Due to the longitudinal study design, however, we cannot exclude uncontrolled confounders affecting the transfusion frequency and mean ICU stay. Conclusion Our BSB could be easily implemented and was able to reduce diagnostic blood loss. PMID:26421920

Effect of parvoviral enteritis on plasma citrulline concentration in dogs.

PubMed

Dossin, O; Rupassara, S I; Weng, H-Y; Williams, D A; Garlick, P J; Schoeman, J P

2011-01-01

Plasma citrulline concentration is a reliable marker of global enterocyte mass in humans and is markedly decreased in diffuse small intestinal diseases. However, the relationship between acute intestinal damage and plasma citrulline concentration in dogs has never been documented. That dogs with parvoviral enteritis have a lower plasma citrulline concentration than healthy dogs and that plasma citrulline concentration is a predictor of death in puppies with parvoviral enteritis. Sixty-one dogs with spontaneous parvoviral enteritis and 14 healthy age-matched control dogs. Observational cohort study. Plasma citrulline concentration was measured by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry in blood samples collected at admission and each day until death or discharge from the hospital. Parvovirus enteritis was confirmed by electron microscopy on a fecal sample. Median (interquartile range) plasma citrulline concentrations at admission were 2.8 μmol/L (range: 0.3, 49.0; P < .001 versus controls) in survivors (n = 49), 2.1 μmol/L (range: 0.5, 6.4, P < .001 versus controls) in nonsurvivors (n = 12) and 38.6 μmol/L (range: 11.4, 96.1) in controls (n = 14), respectively. There was no significant difference in plasma citrulline concentration between survivors and nonsurvivors within the parvovirus-infected puppies, and plasma citrulline concentration was not significantly associated with outcome in parvoviral enteritis. There were no significant changes in plasma citrulline concentration over the 8-day follow-up period. Parvovirus enteritis is associated with a severe decrease in plasma citrulline concentration that does not appear to have any significant prognostic value. Copyright © 2011 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Effect of medium-pressure UV-lamp treatment on disinfection by-products in chlorinated seawater swimming pool waters.

PubMed

Cheema, Waqas A; Manasfi, Tarek; Kaarsholm, Kamilla M S; Andersen, Henrik R; Boudenne, Jean-Luc

2017-12-01

Several brominated disinfection by-products (DBPs) are formed in chlorinated seawater pools, due to the high concentration of bromide in seawater. UV irradiation is increasingly employed in freshwater pools, because UV treatment photodegrades harmful chloramines. However, in freshwater pools it has been reported that post-UV chlorination promotes the formation of other DBPs. To date, UV-based processes have not been investigated for DBPs in seawater pools. In this study, the effects of UV, followed by chlorination, on the concentration of three groups of DBPs were investigated in laboratory batch experiments using a medium-pressure UV lamp. Chlorine consumption increased following post-UV chlorination, most likely because UV irradiation degraded organic matter in the pool samples to more chlorine-reactive organic matter. Haloacetic acid (HAA) concentrations decreased significantly, due to photo-degradation, but the concentrations of trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetonitriles (HANs) increased with post-UV chlorination. Bromine incorporation in HAAs was significantly higher in the control samples chlorinated without UV irradiation but decreased significantly with UV treatment. Bromine incorporation was promoted in THM and HAN after UV and chlorine treatment. Overall, the accumulated bromine incorporation level in DBPs remained essentially unchanged in comparison with the control samples. Toxicity estimates increased with single-dose UV and chlorination, mainly due to increased HAN concentrations. However, brominated HANs are known in the literature to degrade following further UV treatment. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cortisol receptor blockade and seawater adaptation in the euryhaline teleost Fundulus heteroclitus

USGS Publications Warehouse

Marshall, W.S.; Cozzi, R.R.F.; Pelis, Ryan M.; McCormick, S.D.

2005-01-01

To examine the role of cortisol in seawater osmoregulation in a euryhaline teleost, adult killifish were acclimated to brackish water (10???) and RU486 or vehicle was administered orally in peanut oil daily for five days at low (40 mg.kg-1) or high dose (200 mg.kg-1). Fish were transferred to 1.5 x seawater (45???) or to brackish water (control) and sampled at 24 h and 48 h after transfer, when Cl- secretion is upregulated. At 24 h, opercular membrane Cl- secretion rate, as Isc, was increased only in the high dose RU486 group. Stimulation of membranes by 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine and cAMP increased Isc in vehicle treated controls but those from RU486-treated animals were unchanged and membranes from brackish water animals showed a decrease in Isc. At 48 h, Isc increased and transepithelial resistance decreased in vehicle and RU486 groups, compared to brackish water controls. Plasma cortisol increased in all groups transferred to high salinity, compared to brackish water controls. RU486 treated animals had higher cortisol levels compared to vehicle controls. Vehicle treated controls had lower cortisol levels than untreated or RU486 treated animals, higher stimulation of Isc, and lower hematocrit at 24 h, beneficial effects attributed to increased caloric intake from the peanut oil vehicle. Chloride cell density was significantly increased in the high dose RU486 group at 48 hours, yet Isc was unchanged, suggesting a decrease in Cl- secretion per cell. Thus cortisol enhances NaCl secretion capacity in chloride cells, likely via glucocorticoid type receptors. ?? 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Decreased human leukocyte antigen A*02:01 frequency is associated with risk of glioma and existence of human cytomegalovirus: a case-control study in Northern China.

PubMed

Han, Sheng; Deng, Jian; Wang, Zixun; Liu, Huan; Cheng, Wen; Wu, Anhua

2017-10-01

Human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) play an important role in host defense against viral infection and tumorigenesis. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has been linked to glioma development. This study investigated the relationship between HLA distribution, presence of HCMV, and glioma development in a Han Chinese population. The study population included 150 glioma patients and 150 tumor-free brain injury control subjects (control-A) matched according to geography, ethnicity, age, and gender. HLA allele frequency was compared between the two groups using peripheral blood samples by PCR sequence-based typing. These data were also compared with HLA frequencies obtained from a Northern Chinese Han population database (control-B). HCMV DNA was detected in the peripheral blood of glioma patients and control group-A by nested PCR. The expression of HCMV proteins IE1-72 and pp65 in tumor tissues was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. The frequency of HLA-A*02:01 was decreased in glioma patients as compared to control group-A and -B (P < 0.001 and P = 0.001, respectively). The age/sex-adjusted odds ratio for HLA-A*02:01 positivity vs. negativity was 0.392 (95% confidence interval 0.225-0.683). HCMV was more frequently detected in the peripheral blood and tumor tissue of HLA-A*02:01-negative glioma patients. HLA-A*02:01 and HCMV were not associated with overall survival. There is a correlation between decreased HLA-A*0201 allele frequency and glioma susceptibility.

Assessing dietary and lifestyle risk factors and their associations with disease comorbidities among patients with schizophrenia: A case-control study from Bahrain.

PubMed

Jahrami, Haitham Ali; Faris, Mo'ez Al-Islam Ezzat; Saif, Zahraa Qassim; Hammad, Laila Habib

2017-08-01

Acquired dietary habits and lifestyle behaviors of patients with schizophrenia may affect their life expectancy, disease complications and prognosis. The objectives of the current study were to assess the dietary habits and other lifestyle behaviors for Bahraini patients with schizophrenia, and to determine their associations with different medical comorbidities. A case-control study was conducted during the period of March to December 2016. A sample of 120 cases were recruited from the Psychiatric Hospital, Bahrain and age-sex-matched with 120 controls. Controls were recruited from primary health centres, and were free from serious mental illness. Dietary habits and lifestyle behaviors including smoking, alcohol intake and physical activity were assessed using a questionnaire. All medical records were reviewed retrospectively. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify dietary and lifestyle risk factors that are associated with one or more disease comorbidities. Cases had higher prevalence of smoking and alcohol intake, excessive dietary intake, and decreased physical activity (all P<0.05) compared with controls. Cases appeared to be at higher risk for developing chronic medical conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and musculoskeletal disorders. Cases were three times more likely to have up to three or more medical comorbidities compared with controls. Excessive dietary intake and decreased physical activity were identified as the main risk factors. Excessive caloric intake and decreased physical activity represent the main dietary and lifestyle risk factors associated with comorbidities among patients with schizophrenia in Bahrain. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Inhibition of phosphorus sorption on calcite by dairy manure-sourced DOC.

PubMed

Weyers, Eva; Strawn, Daniel G; Peak, Derek; Baker, Leslie L

2017-10-01

In confined animal feeding operations, such as dairies, manure is amended to soils at high rates leading to increases in P and organic matter in the soils. Phosphorus reacts with soil-Ca to form Ca-P minerals, which controls P availability for leaching and transport through the watershed. In this research, the effects of manure sourced dissolved organic matter (DOM) on P sorption on calcite were measured at different reaction times and concentrations. Reactions were monitored in 1% and 10% manure-to-water extract solutions spiked with P. When manure-DOM was present, a significant reduction in P sorption occurred (2-90% absolute decrease) compared to samples without manure-DOM. The greatest decrease occurred in the samples reacted in the 10% manure solution. XANES spectroscopic analysis showed that at 1% manure solution, a Ca-P phase similar to hydroxyapatite formed. In the calcite samples reacted in the 10% manure solution, K-edge XANES spectroscopy revealed that P occurred as a Ca-Mg-P phase instead of the less soluble hydroxyapatite-like phase. Results from this study suggest that in manure-amended calcareous soils, increased DOM from manure will decrease P sorption capacity and increase the overall P concentration in solution, which will increase the mobility of P and subsequently pose greater risks for impairment of surface water quality. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Association between serum soluble CD30 and serum creatinine before and after renal transplantation.

PubMed

López-Hoyos, M; San Segundo, D; Benito, M J; Fernández-Fresnedo, G; Ruiz, J C; Rodrigo, E; Gómez-Alamillo, C; Benito, A; Arias, M

2008-11-01

There is increasing evidence that circulating levels of soluble CD30 (sCD30) may represent a biomarker for outcome in kidney transplantation. The aim of this study was to measure the pre- and posttransplantation serum levels of sCD30 in cadaveric kidney transplant recipients and correlate them with serum creatinine. Serum sCD30 was measured by a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) from prospective samples of 38 kidney allograft recipients serially transplanted at our center. Samples were collected at day 0 pretransplantation and at months 6, 12, 18, and 24 posttransplantation. We also studied sera from 29 patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) at different stages of the K/DOQI guidelines, as a control group. Serum levels of sCD30 decreased significantly in samples posttransplantation compared with pretransplantation. The significant decrease after transplantation may be related to the improvement in renal function since we observed a significant correlation between serum levels of sCD30 and creatinine (sCr) at all times of the study. In addition, the patients with chronic renal failure showed a significant association between serum sCD30 and sCr (r = .454; P = .013). Our results did not suggest that the measurement of sCD30 may be used as a valuable biomarker in renal transplantation. Increased levels may be related to a decrease in its renal elimination.

Evaluation of a Dust Control for a Small Slab-Riding Dowel Drill for Concrete Pavement

PubMed Central

Echt, Alan; Mead, Kenneth

2016-01-01

Purpose To assess the effectiveness of local exhaust ventilation to control respirable crystalline silica exposures to acceptable levels during concrete dowel drilling. Approach Personal breathing zone samples for respirable dust and crystalline silica were collected while laborers drilled holes 3.5 cm diameter by 36 cm deep in a concrete slab using a single-drill slab-riding dowel drill equipped with local exhaust ventilation. Data were collected on air flow, weather, and productivity. Results All respirable dust samples were below the 90 µg detection limit which, when combined with the largest sample volume, resulted in a minimum detectable concentration of 0.31 mg m−3. This occurred in a 32-min sample collected when 27 holes were drilled. Quartz was only detected in one air sample; 0.09 mg m−3 of quartz was found on an 8-min sample collected during a drill maintenance task. The minimum detectable concentration for quartz in personal air samples collected while drilling was performed was 0.02 mg m−3. The average number of holes drilled during each drilling sample was 23. Over the course of the 2-day study, air flow measured at the dust collector decreased from 2.2 to 1.7 m3 s−1. Conclusions The dust control performed well under the conditions of this test. The initial duct velocity with a clean filter was sufficient to prevent settling, but gradually fell below the recommended value to prevent dust from settling in the duct. The practice of raising the drill between each hole may have prevented the dust from settling in the duct. A slightly higher flow rate and an improved duct design would prevent settling without regard to the position of the drill. PMID:26826033

Compression and flexural strength of bone cement mixed with blood.

PubMed

Tan, J H; Koh, B Th; Ramruttun, A K; Wang, W

2016-08-01

To assess the compression and flexural strength of bone cement mixed with 0 ml, 1 ml, or 2 ml of blood. High viscosity polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) loaded with or without gentamicin was used. Blood was collected from total knee arthroplasty patients. In the same operating room, one pack of cement each was mixed with 0 ml (control), 1 ml, or 2 ml of blood for 1 minute during the dough phase. The dough was extruded into cylindrical and rectangular moulds for 20 minutes of setting, and then cured in phosphate buffered saline at 37±1ºC for 7 days. The samples were visually inspected for fractures and areas of weakness, and then scanned using microcomputed tomography. 48 gentamicin-loaded and 59 non-gentamicin-loaded samples mixed with 0 ml (control), 1 ml, or 2 ml of blood were randomised for flexural and compression strength testing; each group had at least 6 samples. In samples loaded with or without gentamicin, the flexural and compressive strength was highest in controls, followed by samples mixed with 1 ml or 2 ml of blood. In samples mixed with 2 ml of blood, the flexural strength fell below the standard of 50 MPa. In samples mixed with 2 ml of blood and all gentamicin-loaded samples, the compressive strength fell below the standard of 70 MPa. Microcomputed tomography revealed areas of voids and pores indicating the presence of laminations and partitions within. The biomechanical strength of PMMA contaminated with blood may decrease. Precautions such as saline lavage, pack drying the bone, change of gloves, and prompt insertion of the implant should be taken to prevent blood from contaminating bone cement.

Evaluation of a Dust Control for a Small Slab-Riding Dowel Drill for Concrete Pavement.

PubMed

Echt, Alan; Mead, Kenneth

2016-05-01

To assess the effectiveness of local exhaust ventilation to control respirable crystalline silica exposures to acceptable levels during concrete dowel drilling. Personal breathing zone samples for respirable dust and crystalline silica were collected while laborers drilled holes 3.5 cm diameter by 36 cm deep in a concrete slab using a single-drill slab-riding dowel drill equipped with local exhaust ventilation. Data were collected on air flow, weather, and productivity. All respirable dust samples were below the 90 µg detection limit which, when combined with the largest sample volume, resulted in a minimum detectable concentration of 0.31 mg m(-3). This occurred in a 32-min sample collected when 27 holes were drilled. Quartz was only detected in one air sample; 0.09 mg m(-3) of quartz was found on an 8-min sample collected during a drill maintenance task. The minimum detectable concentration for quartz in personal air samples collected while drilling was performed was 0.02 mg m(-3). The average number of holes drilled during each drilling sample was 23. Over the course of the 2-day study, air flow measured at the dust collector decreased from 2.2 to 1.7 m(3) s(-1). The dust control performed well under the conditions of this test. The initial duct velocity with a clean filter was sufficient to prevent settling, but gradually fell below the recommended value to prevent dust from settling in the duct. The practice of raising the drill between each hole may have prevented the dust from settling in the duct. A slightly higher flow rate and an improved duct design would prevent settling without regard to the position of the drill. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Occupational Hygiene Society 2016.

Effect on orange juice of batch pasteurization in an improved pilot-scale microwave oven.

PubMed

Cinquanta, L; Albanese, D; Cuccurullo, G; Di Matteo, M

2010-01-01

The effects on orange juice batch pasteurization in an improved pilot-scale microwave (MW) oven was evaluated by monitoring pectin methyl-esterase (PME) activity, color, carotenoid compounds and vitamin C content. Trials were performed on stirred orange juice heated at different temperatures (60, 70, 75, and 85 degrees C) during batch process. MW pilot plant allowed real-time temperature control of samples using proportional integrative derivative (PID) techniques based on the infrared thermography temperature read-out. The inactivation of heat sensitive fraction of PME, that verifies orange juice pasteurization, showed a z-value of 22.1 degrees C. Carotenoid content, responsible for sensorial and nutritional quality in fresh juices, decreased by about 13% after MW pasteurization at 70 degrees C for 1 min. Total of 7 carotenoid compounds were quantified during MW heating: zeaxanthin and beta-carotene content decreased by about 26%, while no differences (P < 0.05) were found for beta-cryptoxanthin in the same trial. A slight decrease in vitamin C content was monitored after MW heating. Results showed that MW heating with a fine temperature control could result in promising stabilization treatments.

Exercise metabolism in human skeletal muscle exposed to prior eccentric exercise

PubMed Central

Asp, Sven; Daugaard, Jens R; Kristiansen, Søren; Kiens, Bente; Richter, Erik A

1998-01-01

The effects of unaccustomed eccentric exercise on exercise metabolism during a subsequent bout of graded concentric exercise were investigated in seven healthy male subjects. Arterial and bilateral femoral venous catheters were inserted 2 days after eccentric exercise of one thigh (eccentric thigh) and blood samples were taken before and during graded two-legged concentric knee-extensor exercise. Muscle biopsies were obtained from the eccentric and control vastus lateralis before (rest) and after (post) the concentric exercise bout. Maximal knee-extensor concentric exercise capacity was decreased by an average of 23 % (P < 0.05) in the eccentric compared with the control thigh. The resting muscle glycogen content was lower in the eccentric thigh than in the control thigh (402 ± 30 mmol (kg dry wt)−1vs. 515 ± 26 mmol (kg dry wt)−1, means ± s.e.m., P < 0.05), and following the two-legged concentric exercise this difference substantially increased (190 ± 46 mmol (kg dry wt)−1vs. 379 ± 58 mmol (kg dry wt)−1, P < 0.05) despite identical power and duration of exercise with the two thighs. There was no measurable difference in glucose uptake between the eccentric and control thigh before or during the graded two-legged concentric exercise. Lactate release was higher from the eccentric thigh at rest and, just before termination of the exercise bout, release of lactate decreased from this thigh (suggesting decreased glycogenolysis), whereas no decrease was found from the contralateral control thigh. Lower glycerol release from the eccentric thigh during the first, lighter part of the exercise (P < 0.05) suggested impaired triacylglycerol breakdown. At rest, sarcolemmal GLUT4 glucose transporter content and glucose transport were similar in the two thighs, and concentric exercise increased sarcolemmal GLUT4 content and glucose transport capacity similarly in the two thighs. It is concluded that in muscle exposed to prior eccentric contractions, exercise at a given power output requires a higher relative workload than in undamaged muscle. This increases utilization of the decreased muscle glycogen stores, contributing to decreased endurance. PMID:9547403

A new, simple electrostatic-acoustic hybrid levitator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lierke, E. G.; Loeb, H.; Gross, D.

1990-01-01

Battelle has developed a hybrid levitator by combining the known single-axis acoustic standing wave levitator with a coaxial DC electric field. The resulting Coulomb forces on the charged liquid or solid sample support its weight and, together with the acoustic force, center the sample. Liquid samples with volumes approximately less than 100 micro-liters are deployed from a syringe reservoir into the acoustic pressure node. The sample is charged using a miniature high voltage power supply (approximately less than 20 kV) connected to the syringe needle. As the electric field, generated by a second miniature power supply, is increased, the acoustic intensity is reduced. The combination of both fields allows stable levitation of samples larger than either single technique could position on the ground. Decreasing the acoustic intensity reduces acoustic convection and sample deformation. Neither the electrostatic nor the acoustic field requires sample position sensing or active control. The levitator, now used for static and dynamic fluid physics investigations on the ground, can be easily modified for space operations.

Utilizing Mushrooms to Reduce Overall Sodium in Taco Filling Using Physical and Sensory Evaluation.

PubMed

Wong, Kristin M; Decker, Eric A; Autio, Wesley R; Toong, Ken; DiStefano, Garett; Kinchla, Amanda J

2017-10-01

This project investigated the use of integrating mushrooms into beef taco filling as a means to reduce overall sodium for food service applications. Initial product development used physical characterization analysis (moisture, yield, color, and texture) to determine initial threshold of mushroom inclusion with minimal differences against an all-meat control. Increasing mushroom inclusion increased moisture and yield before draining but decreased yield after draining, lightness, redness, and texture. Results showed that inclusion under 50% by weight minimized physical attribute deviation from an all-meat control. Additional physical analysis investigated a variety of other factors (mushroom type, blanching, and particle size) to determine if other attributing mushroom characteristics would yield statistical similarity to the all-meat control. Results showed that a formulation containing up to 45% mushrooms can be integrated into beef fillings using un-blanched, white button mushrooms with small grind (1 to 5 mm), which maximized mushroom usage while minimizing differences from the all-meat control. Additional sodium analysis showed that varying salt level in formulations did not affect physical characteristics and mushroom inclusion could not significantly reduce overall sodium level. Optimized mushroom samples were then fielded in a hedonic sensory study to untrained consumers to evaluate product liking attributes (overall liking, aroma, color, flavor, juiciness, saltiness, and texture). Samples with overall liking scores that closely matched the control were then fielded in a paired-preference test to determine acceptance. Consumers preferred a 45% mushroom with reduced sodium taco filling compared to its full sodium counterpart in a food service fielded paired-preference sensory test. Although diet can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease, American consumers continue to eat detrimental diets high in fat and sodium. Products need to be made that decrease fat and sodium intake while still delivering acceptable taste. Mushroom substitution into meat-based products can be a strategy to develop products that can decrease fat and sodium consumption while increasing vegetable intake without compromising the quality and taste consumers demand. This research shows how consumers can accept meat-based products containing mushrooms with potential for direct food service application. © 2017 Institute of Food Technologists®.

Effects of tobacco smoke and electronic cigarette vapor exposure on the oral and gut microbiota in humans: a pilot study.

PubMed

Stewart, Christopher J; Auchtung, Thomas A; Ajami, Nadim J; Velasquez, Kenia; Smith, Daniel P; De La Garza, Richard; Salas, Ramiro; Petrosino, Joseph F

2018-01-01

The use of electronic cigarettes (ECs) has increased drastically over the past five years, primarily as an alternative to smoking tobacco cigarettes. However, the adverse effects of acute and long-term use of ECs on the microbiota have not been explored. In this pilot study, we sought to determine if ECs or tobacco smoking alter the oral and gut microbiota in comparison to non-smoking controls. We examined a human cohort consisting of 30 individuals: 10 EC users, 10 tobacco smokers, and 10 controls. We collected cross-sectional fecal, buccal swabs, and saliva samples from each participant. All samples underwent V4 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Tobacco smoking had a significant effect on the bacterial profiles in all sample types when compared to controls, and in feces and buccal swabs when compared to EC users. The most significant associations were found in the gut, with an increased relative abundance of Prevotella ( P = 0.006) and decreased Bacteroides ( P = 0.036) in tobacco smokers. The Shannon diversity was also significantly reduced ( P = 0.009) in fecal samples collected from tobacco smokers compared to controls. No significant difference was found in the alpha diversity, beta-diversity or taxonomic relative abundances between EC users and controls. From a microbial ecology perspective, the current pilot data demonstrate that the use of ECs may represent a safer alternative compared to tobacco smoking. However, validation in larger cohorts and greater understanding of the short and long-term impact of EC use on microbiota composition and function is warranted.

Investigation of the effect of hydration on dermal collagen in ex vivo human skin tissue using second harmonic generation microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Samatham, Ravikant; Wang, Nicholas K.; Jacques, Steven L.

2016-02-01

Effect of hydration on the dermal collagen structure in human skin was investigated using second harmonic generation microscopy. Dog ears from the Mohs micrographic surgery department were procured for the study. Skin samples with subject aged between 58-90 years old were used in the study. Three dimensional Multiphoton (Two-photon and backward SHG) control data was acquired from the skin samples. After the control measurement, the skin tissue was either soaked in deionized water for 2 hours (Hydration) or kept at room temperature for 2 hours (Desiccation), and SHG data was acquired. The data was normalized for changes in laser power and detector gain. The collagen signal per unit volume from the dermis was calculated. The desiccated skin tissue gave higher backward SHG compared to respective control tissue, while hydration sample gave a lower backward SHG. The collagen signal decreased with increase in hydration of the dermal collagen. Hydration affected the packing of the collagen fibrils causing a change in the backward SHG signal. In this study, the use of multiphoton microscopy to study the effect of hydration on dermal structure was demonstrated in ex vivo tissue.

Ultrasound effects after post space preparation: An SEM study.

PubMed

Serafino, Cinzia; Gallina, Giuseppe; Cumbo, Enzo; Monticelli, Francesca; Goracci, Cecilia; Ferrari, Marco

2006-06-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ultrasonic treatment on occlusion of dentine tubules in root canal walls after post space preparation in endodontically treated teeth. Twenty-four premolars were instrumented and filled using warm vertical condensation; after post space preparation, they were divided into two groups. The control group was treated using the etching procedure. The experiment samples were treated with EDTA irrigation and ultrasound activation for 30 s before the etching procedure. The roots were divided and the canal walls were examined under SEM at 1000x magnification. The debris and open tubule marks were observed at 2, 6, and 10 mm levels using a three-step scale and the differences in marks among the groups were tested for statistical significance. The following were observed: (a) A decrease in debris and open tubule marks in the samples treated with ultrasounds and the control group (p < 0.05), (b) no significant differences between the three levels of post space in debris and open tubule marks in the experiment samples, and (c) significant differences between the apical and coronal levels in debris and open tubule marks in the control group.

DESPERATELY SEEKING HAPPINESS: VALUING HAPPINESS IS ASSOCIATED WITH SYMPTOMS AND DIAGNOSIS OF DEPRESSION.

PubMed

Ford, Brett Q; Shallcross, Amanda J; Mauss, Iris B; Floerke, Victoria A; Gruber, June

Culture shapes the emotions people feel and want to feel. In Western cultures, happiness is an emotion that many people want to feel. Although experiencing happiness is associated with increased well-being and psychological health, recent evidence suggests wanting to feel happy to an extreme degree, or, highly valuing happiness, leads to decreased well-being. To examine whether these effects of valuing happiness might extend to clinical outcomes, we examined the hypothesis that depression is associated with highly valuing happiness. To do so, we examined the relationship between valuing happiness and depression in two U.S. samples. As hypothesized, valuing happiness was associated with increased depressive symptoms in a community sample with remitted major depressive disorder (MDD), even when controlling for social desirability and neuroticism (Study 1). Furthermore, valuing happiness was elevated in a remitted MDD sample (vs. healthy controls), even when controlling for current depressive symptoms, general affect valuation, and extreme goal pursuit (Study 2). Taken together, these findings suggest that the culturally-pervasive value placed on attaining happiness can represent a risk factor for symptoms and a diagnosis of depression. More broadly, they indicate that a cultural approach can meaningfully extend our understanding of clinical phenomena.

DESPERATELY SEEKING HAPPINESS: VALUING HAPPINESS IS ASSOCIATED WITH SYMPTOMS AND DIAGNOSIS OF DEPRESSION

PubMed Central

Ford, Brett Q.; Shallcross, Amanda J.; Mauss, Iris B.; Floerke, Victoria A.; Gruber, June

2015-01-01

Culture shapes the emotions people feel and want to feel. In Western cultures, happiness is an emotion that many people want to feel. Although experiencing happiness is associated with increased well-being and psychological health, recent evidence suggests wanting to feel happy to an extreme degree, or, highly valuing happiness, leads to decreased well-being. To examine whether these effects of valuing happiness might extend to clinical outcomes, we examined the hypothesis that depression is associated with highly valuing happiness. To do so, we examined the relationship between valuing happiness and depression in two U.S. samples. As hypothesized, valuing happiness was associated with increased depressive symptoms in a community sample with remitted major depressive disorder (MDD), even when controlling for social desirability and neuroticism (Study 1). Furthermore, valuing happiness was elevated in a remitted MDD sample (vs. healthy controls), even when controlling for current depressive symptoms, general affect valuation, and extreme goal pursuit (Study 2). Taken together, these findings suggest that the culturally-pervasive value placed on attaining happiness can represent a risk factor for symptoms and a diagnosis of depression. More broadly, they indicate that a cultural approach can meaningfully extend our understanding of clinical phenomena. PMID:25678736

Inhibition of Sodium Benzoate on Stainless Steel in Tropical Seawater

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Seoh, S. Y.; Senin, H. B.; Nik, W. N. Wan

2007-05-09

The inhibition of sodium benzoate for stainless steel controlling corrosion was studied in seawater at room temperature. Three sets of sample have been immersed in seawater containing sodium benzoate with the concentrations of 0.3M, 0.6M and 1.0M respectively. One set of sample has been immersed in seawater without adding any sodium benzoate. It was found that the highest corrosion rate was observed for the stainless steel with no inhibitor was added to the seawater. As the concentration of sodium benzoate being increased, the corrosion rate is decreases. Results show that by the addition of 1.0M of sodium benzoate in seawatermore » samples, it giving {>=} 90% efficiencies.« less

Team Leader Structuring for Team Effectiveness and Team Learning in Command-and-Control Teams.

PubMed

van der Haar, Selma; Koeslag-Kreunen, Mieke; Euwe, Eline; Segers, Mien

2017-04-01

Due to their crucial and highly consequential task, it is of utmost importance to understand the levers leading to effectiveness of multidisciplinary emergency management command-and-control (EMCC) teams. We argue that the formal EMCC team leader needs to initiate structure in the team meetings to support organizing the work as well as facilitate team learning, especially the team learning process of constructive conflict. In a sample of 17 EMCC teams performing a realistic EMCC exercise, including one or two team meetings (28 in sum), we coded the team leader's verbal structuring behaviors (1,704 events), rated constructive conflict by external experts, and rated team effectiveness by field experts. Results show that leaders of effective teams use structuring behaviors more often (except asking procedural questions) but decreasingly over time. They support constructive conflict by clarifying and by making summaries that conclude in a command or decision in a decreasing frequency over time.

Green Tea Polyphenols Decrease Strecker Aldehydes and Bind to Proteins in Lactose-Hydrolyzed UHT Milk.

PubMed

Jansson, Therese; Rauh, Valentin; Danielsen, Bente P; Poojary, Mahesha M; Waehrens, Sandra S; Bredie, Wender L P; Sørensen, John; Petersen, Mikael A; Ray, Colin A; Lund, Marianne N

2017-12-06

The effect of epigallocatechin gallate enriched green tea extract (GTE) on flavor, Maillard reactions and protein modifications in lactose-hydrolyzed (LH) ultrahigh temperature (UHT) processed milk was examined during storage at 40 °C for up to 42 days. Addition of GTE inhibited the formation of Strecker aldehydes by up to 95% compared to control milk, and the effect was similar when GTE was added either before or after UHT treatment. Release of free amino acids, caused by proteolysis, during storage was also decreased in GTE-added milk either before or after UHT treatment compared to control milk. Binding of polyphenols to milk proteins was observed in both fresh and stored milk samples. The inhibition of Strecker aldehyde formation by GTE may be explained by two different mechanisms; inhibition of proteolysis during storage by GTE or binding of amino acids and proteins to the GTE polyphenols.

Integration and segregation of large-scale brain networks during short-term task automatization

PubMed Central

Mohr, Holger; Wolfensteller, Uta; Betzel, Richard F.; Mišić, Bratislav; Sporns, Olaf; Richiardi, Jonas; Ruge, Hannes

2016-01-01

The human brain is organized into large-scale functional networks that can flexibly reconfigure their connectivity patterns, supporting both rapid adaptive control and long-term learning processes. However, it has remained unclear how short-term network dynamics support the rapid transformation of instructions into fluent behaviour. Comparing fMRI data of a learning sample (N=70) with a control sample (N=67), we find that increasingly efficient task processing during short-term practice is associated with a reorganization of large-scale network interactions. Practice-related efficiency gains are facilitated by enhanced coupling between the cingulo-opercular network and the dorsal attention network. Simultaneously, short-term task automatization is accompanied by decreasing activation of the fronto-parietal network, indicating a release of high-level cognitive control, and a segregation of the default mode network from task-related networks. These findings suggest that short-term task automatization is enabled by the brain's ability to rapidly reconfigure its large-scale network organization involving complementary integration and segregation processes. PMID:27808095

An effective self-control strategy for the reduction of aflatoxin M1 content in milk and to decrease the exposure of consumers.

PubMed

Kerekes, Kata; Bonilauri, Paolo; Serraino, Andrea; Giacometti, Federica; Piva, Silvia; Zambrini, Vittorio; Canever, Alessandra; Farkas, Zsuzsa; Ambrus, Árpád

2016-12-01

The study reports the results of testing the sensitivity of an early warning sampling plan for detecting milk batches with high aflatoxin AFM 1 concentration. The effectiveness of the method was investigated by the analysis of 9017 milk samples collected in Italian milk processing plants that applied control plans with different action limits (AL). For those milk processing plants where 30 ng kg -1 AL has been applied, the AFM 1 contamination was significantly lower at or above the 95th percentile of the milk samples when compared with plants that used 40 ng kg -1 AL. The results show that the control plan can be used effectively for early warning of occurrence of high AFM 1 contamination of milk and to carry out pro-active measures to limit the level of contamination. Estimation of dietary exposure was also carried out, based on the aflatoxin M 1 content of the milk samples and on Italian food consumption data. Estimated Daily Intakes (EDI) and Hazard Indices (HI) were calculated for different age groups of the population. HIs show that no adverse effects are expected for the adult population, but in the case of children under age three, the approximate HI values were considerably higher. This underlines the importance of the careful monitoring and control of aflatoxin M 1 in milk and dairy products.

Physicochemical and Microbial Properties of the Korean Traditional Rice Wine, Makgeolli, Supplemented with Banana during Fermentation.

PubMed

Kim, Eunkyung; Chang, Yoon Hyuk; Ko, Jae Youn; Jeong, Yoonhwa

2013-09-01

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the physicochemical and microbial properties of the Korean traditional rice wine Makgeolli, supplemented with banana during 6 day fermentation. The alcohol contents of the control and banana Makgeolli were 17.0 and 16.5%, respectively. The pH values decreased while total acidity, total soluble solids, and color values increased throughout the fermentation process. An increase in microorganism counts throughout the 6-day fermentation period was noted in all samples. The major free sugar and organic acid detected in all samples were glucose and succinic acid, respectively. There were 39 volatile compounds detected in the control and banana Makgeolli. The major ester detected was ethyl acetate (20.037 and 22.604% for the control and banana Makgeolli, respectively). The major alcohol compounds detected were 3-methylbutanol (20.933%) and 3-methyl-1-butanol (34.325%) in the control. 2-mtehyl-1-propanol (22.289%) and 3-methyl-1-butanol (39.851%) were the highest alcohol compounds detected in the banana Makgeolli.

Monitoring genotoxic exposure in uranium miners

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sram, R.J.; Binkova, B.; Dobias, L.

1993-03-01

Recent data from deep uranium mines in Czechoslovakia indicated that in addition to radon daughter products, miners are also exposed to chemical mutagens. Mycotoxins were identified as a possible source of mutagenicity present in the mines. Various methods of biomonitoring were used to examine three groups of miners from different uranium mines. Cytogenetic analysis of peripheral lymphocytes, unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) in lymphocytes, and lipid peroxidation (LPO) in both plasma and lymphocytes were studied on 66 exposed miners and 56 controls. Throat swabs were taken from 116 miners and 78 controls. Significantly increased numbers of aberrant cells were found inmore » all groups of miners, as well as decreased UDS values in lymphocytes and increased LPO plasma levels in comparison to controls. Molds were detected in throat swabs from 27% of miners, and 58% of these molds were embryotoxic. Only 5% of the control samples contained molds and none of them was embryotoxic. The following mycotoxins were isolated from miners' throat swab samples: rugulosin, sterigmatocystin, mycophenolic acid, brevianamid A, citreoviridin, citrinin, penicilic acid, and secalonic acid. These data suggest that mycotoxins are a genotoxic factor affecting uranium miners.« less

Monitoring genotoxic exposure in uranium miners.

PubMed Central

Srám, R J; Binková, B; Dobiás, L; Rössner, P; Topinka, J; Veselá, D; Veselý, D; Stejskalová, J; Bavorová, H; Rericha, V

1993-01-01

Recent data from deep uranium mines in Czechoslovakia indicated that in addition to radon daughter products, miners are also exposed to chemical mutagens. Mycotoxins were identified as a possible source of mutagenicity present in the mines. Various methods of biomonitoring were used to examine three groups of miners from different uranium mines. Cytogenetic analysis of peripheral lymphocytes, unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) in lymphocytes, and lipid peroxidation (LPO) in both plasma and lymphocytes were studied on 66 exposed miners and 56 controls. Throat swabs were taken from 116 miners and 78 controls. Significantly increased numbers of aberrant cells were found in all groups of miners, as well as decreased UDS values in lymphocytes and increased LPO plasma levels in comparison to controls. Molds were detected in throat swabs from 27% of miners, and 58% of these molds were embryotoxic. Only 5% of the control samples contained molds and none of them was embryotoxic. The following mycotoxins were isolated from miners' throat swab samples: rugulosin, sterigmatocystin, mycophenolic acid, brevianamid A, citreoviridin, citrinin, penicilic acid, and secalonic acid. These data suggest that mycotoxins are a genotoxic factor affecting uranium miners. PMID:8319649

Physicochemical and Microbial Properties of the Korean Traditional Rice Wine, Makgeolli, Supplemented with Banana during Fermentation

PubMed Central

Kim, Eunkyung; Chang, Yoon Hyuk; Ko, Jae Youn; Jeong, Yoonhwa

2013-01-01

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the physicochemical and microbial properties of the Korean traditional rice wine Makgeolli, supplemented with banana during 6 day fermentation. The alcohol contents of the control and banana Makgeolli were 17.0 and 16.5%, respectively. The pH values decreased while total acidity, total soluble solids, and color values increased throughout the fermentation process. An increase in microorganism counts throughout the 6-day fermentation period was noted in all samples. The major free sugar and organic acid detected in all samples were glucose and succinic acid, respectively. There were 39 volatile compounds detected in the control and banana Makgeolli. The major ester detected was ethyl acetate (20.037 and 22.604% for the control and banana Makgeolli, respectively). The major alcohol compounds detected were 3-methylbutanol (20.933%) and 3-methyl-1-butanol (34.325%) in the control. 2-mtehyl-1-propanol (22.289%) and 3-methyl-1-butanol (39.851%) were the highest alcohol compounds detected in the banana Makgeolli. PMID:24471133

Efficacy of metaphylactic florfenicol therapy during natural outbreaks of bovine respiratory disease.

PubMed

Catry, B; Duchateau, L; Van de Ven, J; Laevens, H; Opsomer, G; Haesebrouck, F; De Kruif, A

2008-10-01

The efficacy of an injectable formulation of florfenicol (300 mg/mL) as metaphylactic control of naturally occurring bovine respiratory disease (BRD) was evaluated in two double-blind randomly controlled field studies on two Dutch veal calf herds (A and B). Cattle aged not older than 3 months and in the direct presence of calves with clinical respiratory disease were randomly allocated to treatment with 40 mg/kg florfenicol subcutaneously (s.c.) a positive control treatment (12.5 mg/kg tilmicosin p.o. twice daily for five consecutive days in herd A, and 12.5 mg/kg doxycycline p.o. twice daily for five consecutive days in herd B), or a negative control (one placebo saline s.c. administration on D0). The predominant respiratory pathogens present in pretreatment respiratory samples from affected animals were Mycoplasma bovis and Pasteurella multocida in outbreaks A and B, respectively. Metaphylactic administration of florfenicol resulted in a statistically significant weight gain, decreased rectal temperature for five consecutive days after treatment and decreased metaphylactic failure percentages compared with both positive and negative control groups. In summary, these studies demonstrated that a single s.c. injection of florfenicol is effective and practical for control of the bacterial component of BRD in veal calves.

Images of a Healthy Worksite: A Group-Randomized Trial for Worksite Weight Gain Prevention With Employee Participation in Intervention Design.

PubMed

Fernandez, I Diana; Chin, Nancy P; Devine, Carol M; Dozier, Ann M; Martina, Camille A; McIntosh, Scott; Thevenet-Morrison, Kelly; Yang, Hongmei

2015-10-01

We assessed the effects of a worksite multiple-component intervention addressing diet and physical activity on employees' mean body mass index (BMI) and the percentage of employees who were overweight or obese. This group-randomized trial (n = 3799) was conducted at 10 worksites in the northeastern United States. Worksites were paired and allocated into intervention and control conditions. Within- and between-groups changes in mean BMIs and in the percentage of overweight or obese employees were examined in a volunteer sample. Within-group mean BMIs decreased by 0.54 kilograms per meter squared (P = .02) and 0.12 kilograms per meter squared (P = .73) at the intervention and control worksites, respectively, resulting in a difference in differences (DID) decrease of 0.42 kilograms per meter squared (P = .33). The within-group percentage of overweight or obese employees decreased by 3.7% (P = .07) at the intervention worksites and increased by 4.9% (P = .1) at the control worksites, resulting in a DID decline of 8.6% (P = .02). Our findings support a worksite population strategy that might eventually reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity by minimizing environmental exposures to calorically dense foods and increasing exposures to opportunities for energy expenditure within worksite settings.

S-nitrosoglutathione reductase: an important regulator in human asthma.

PubMed

Que, Loretta G; Yang, Zhonghui; Stamler, Jonathan S; Lugogo, Njira L; Kraft, Monica

2009-08-01

Nitric oxide bioactivity, mediated through the formation of S-nitrosothiols (SNOs), has a significant effect on bronchomotor tone. S-Nitrosoglutathione is an endogenous bronchodilator that is decreased in children with asthmatic respiratory failure and in adults with asthma undergoing segmental airway challenge. Recently we showed that S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) regulates endogenous SNOs. Mice with genetic deletion of GSNOR are protected from airway hyperresponsivity in an allergic asthma model. We hypothesized that GSNOR is increased in human asthma and correlates with lung SNO content and airway reactivity. We recruited 36 subjects with mild asthma with FEV(1) 88.5 +/- 2.3% predicted and 34 healthy control subjects with FEV(1) 100.7 +/- 2.5% predicted. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed in all subjects. Cell counts, differentials, GSNOR activity, and SNO levels were determined in BAL. SNO content was decreased in asthmatic BAL compared with control BAL and correlated inversely with GSNOR expression in BAL cell lysates. Furthermore, GSNOR activity measured from BAL samples was significantly increased in subjects with asthma compared with control subjects and correlated inversely with the provocative concentration of methacholine causing a 20% decrease in FEV(1). These findings suggest that GSNOR is an important regulator of airway SNO content and airways hyperresponsiveness in human asthma.

[Individual, community, regulatory, and systemic approaches to tobacco control interventions].

PubMed

Gorini, Giuseppe

2011-01-01

During the 60s and the 70s strategies for decreasing initiation or quitting have been developed, in order to find those with high success rates. Unfortunately, interventions with an individual approach involved few smokers, so their impact in decreasing smoking prevalence was limited. The socio-ecological model offers a theoretical framework to community interventions for smoking cessation developed during the 80s, in which smoking was considered not only an individual, but also a social problem. In the 80s and the 90s smoking cessation community trials were developed, such as the Community Intervention Trial for Smoking Cessation (COMMIT). Afterwards, policy interventions (price policy; smoking bans in public places; advertising bans; bans of sales to minors) were developed, such as the American Stop Smoking Intervention Study for Cancer Prevention (ASSIST). California has been the first State all over the world to develop a comprehensive Tobacco Control Program in 1988, becoming the place for an ever-conducted natural experiment. All policy interventions in tobacco control have been finally grouped together in the World Health Organization - Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC), the first Public Health Treaty. Study designs have changed, according to the individual, community, or regulatory approaches: the classical randomized controlled trials (RCTs), in which the sampling unit is the individual, have been carried out for the evaluation of smoking cessation treatments, whereas cluster RCTs, in which the sampling unit is the community, have been conducted for evaluating community interventions, such as COMMIT. Finally, quasi-experimental studies (before/after study; prospective cohorts, both with a control group), in which the observational unit is a State, have been used for evaluating tobacco control policies, such as ASSIST and the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project. Although the successes of the last 20 years, tobacco control is at a critical point: in a reductionist approach, we tried to study its parts, but few efforts have been done to consider tobacco control as a complex network that needs an alternative approach to be understood, the systems thinking approach. New attempts of understanding and solving contradictions within tobacco control using a systems thinking approach are presented.

The effect of 8.25% sodium hypochlorite on dental pulp dissolution and dentin flexural strength and modulus.

PubMed

Cullen, James K T; Wealleans, James A; Kirkpatrick, Timothy C; Yaccino, John M

2015-06-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of various concentrations of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), including 8.25%, on dental pulp dissolution and dentin flexural strength and modulus. Sixty dental pulp samples and 55 plane parallel dentin bars were retrieved from extracted human teeth. Five test groups (n = 10) were formed consisting of a pulp sample and dentin bar immersed in various NaOCl solutions. The negative control group (n = 5) consisted of pulp samples and dentin bars immersed in saline. The positive control group (n = 5) consisted of pulp samples immersed in 8.25% NaOCl without a dentin bar. Every 6 minutes for 1 hour, the solutions were refreshed. The dentin bars were tested for flexural strength and modulus with a 3-point bend test. The time until total pulp dissolution and any changes in dentin bar flexural strength and modulus for the different NaOCl solutions were statistically analyzed. An increase in NaOCl concentration showed a highly significant decrease in pulp dissolution time. The pulp dissolution property of 8.25% NaOCl was significantly faster than any other tested concentration of NaOCl. The presence of dentin did not have a significant effect on the dissolution capacity of NaOCl if the solutions were refreshed. NaOCl concentration did not have a statistically significant effect on dentin flexural strength or modulus. Dilution of NaOCl decreases its pulp dissolution capacity. Refreshing the solution is essential to counteract the effects of dentin. In this study, NaOCl did not have a significant effect on dentin flexural strength or modulus. Published by Elsevier Inc.

NF-κB involvement in hyperoxia-induced myocardial damage in newborn rat hearts.

PubMed

Zara, Susi; De Colli, Marianna; Rapino, Monica; Di Valerio, Valentina; Marconi, Guya Diletta; Cataldi, Amelia; Macchi, Veronica; De Caro, Raffaele; Porzionato, Andrea

2013-11-01

Premature newborns are frequently exposed to hyperoxia ventilation and some literature data indicate the possibility of hyperoxia-induced myocardial damage. Since nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) is a crucial signaling molecule involved in physiological response to hyperoxia in different cell types as well as in various tissues, our attention has been focused on the role played by NF-κB pathway in response to moderate and severe hyperoxia exposure in rat neonatal heart tissue. Akt and IκBα levels, involved in NF-κB activation, along with the balance between apoptotic and survival pathways have also been investigated. Experimental design of the study has involved exposure of newborn rats to room air (controls), 60 % O2 (moderate hyperoxia), or 95 % O2 (severe hyperoxia) for the first two postnatal weeks. Morphological analysis shows a less compact tissue in rat heart exposed to moderate hyperoxia and a decreased number of nuclei in samples exposed to severe hyperoxia. A significant increase of NF-κB positive nuclei percentage and p-IκBα expression in samples exposed to 95 % hyperoxia compared to control and to 60 % hyperoxia is evidenced; in parallel, an increase of pAkt/Akt ratio in both samples exposed to 95 and 60 % hyperoxia is shown. Furthermore, a more evident cytochrome c/Apaf-1 immunocomplex and a decreased Bcl2 expression in 95 % hyperoxia-exposed sample compared to 60 % exposed one is evidenced. In conclusion, our findings suggest the involvement of the NF-κB pathway and Akt signaling in the mechanisms of myocardial hyperoxic damage in the newborns, with particular reference to the induction of oxidative stress-related apoptosis.

Self-controlled children stay leaner in the transition to adolescence

PubMed Central

Duckworth, Angela L.; Tsukayama, Eli; Geier, Andrew B.

2010-01-01

In a prospective longitudinal study, we examined whether the personality trait of self-control protects against weight gain during the transition from childhood to adolescence. We obtained multi-method, multi-source measures of self-control from a socioeconomically and ethnically diverse sample of 105 fifth-grade students. Height and weight were recorded by the school nurse and used to calculate age- and gender-specific standardized body mass index (BMI) z-scores. Self-controlled fifth graders had lower BMI z-scores in eighth grade compared to their more impulsive peers, and this relationship remained significant when controlling for potential confounds, including gender, age, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, IQ, and happiness. Moreover, when controlling for the same covariates, self-control measured in fifth grade predicted decreases in BMI z-scores from fifth to eighth grade. These results suggest that more self-controlled children are protected from weight gain in the transition to adolescence. PMID:20004223

Comparison of Directionally Solidified Samples Solidified Terrestrially and Aboard the International Space Station

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Angart, S.; Lauer, M.; Tewari, S. N.; Grugel, R. N.; Poirier, D. R.

2014-01-01

This article reports research that has been carried out under the aegis of NASA as part of a collaboration between ESA and NASA for solidification experiments on the International Space Station (ISS). The focus has been on the effect of convection on the microstructural evolution and macrosegregation in hypoeutectic Al-Si alloys during directional solidification (DS). Terrestrial DS-experiments have been carried out at Cleveland State University (CSU) and under microgravity on the International Space Station (ISS). The thermal processing-history of the experiments is well defined for both the terrestrially processed samples and the ISS-processed samples. As of this writing, two dendritic metrics was measured: primary dendrite arm spacings and primary dendrite trunk diameters. We have observed that these dendrite-metrics of two samples grown in the microgravity environment show good agreements with models based on diffusion controlled growth and diffusion controlled ripening, respectively. The gravity-driven convection (i.e., thermosolutal convection) in terrestrially grown samples has the effect of decreasing the primary dendrite arm spacings and causes macrosegregation. Dendrite trunk diameters also show differences between the earth- and space-grown samples. In order to process DS-samples aboard the ISS, the dendritic seed crystals were partially remelted in a stationary thermal gradient before the DS was carried out. Microstructural changes and macrosegregation effects during this period are described and have modeled.

Evaluation of the effect of processing methods on the nutritional and anti-nutritional compositions of two under-utilized Nigerian grain legumes.

PubMed

Oke, M O; Sobowale, S S; Ogunlakin, G O

2013-12-15

The nutritional and anti-nutritional compositions of African Yam Bean (AYB) and Lima bean flours under different processing methods were determined. Nutritional and anti-nutritional properties studied include moisture content, crude protein, crude fibre, ash content, ether extract, carbohydrate, tannin, protease inhibitor and phytate. The moisture content of AYB flours ranged from 9.31 to 9.61% while that of lima beans ranged from 9.32 to 9.56%. There is a significant different among the samples when the unprocessed AYB (control) and the processed AYB were compared. The same trend was also observed with lima bean flours. However, some nutrient did not show significant variations with processing. It was observed that samples of soaked/de-hulled AYB have the least protease inhibitor of 0.73 mg/100 g and it is significantly different from the unprocessed samples. Soaked/de-hulled flours of both AYB and lima beans have the most percentage decrease in anti-nutritional content. Lima bean flours were observed to have higher anti-nutritional content than AYB. The percentage decrease of anti-nutritional factors in the samples is proportionally higher than that of the nutrients. The nutritional and anti-nutritional compositions of the samples suggest that processed African Yam Bean (AYB) and Lima bean flours would have useful application in fabricated foods.

[Effect of control program of human intestinal parasitic diseases in Nanping City].

PubMed

Ming-Ying, Zhuo; Zhi-Ping, Zhang; Hong-Mei, Zhu; Hui, Zhang; Jia-Mei, Huang; Hui, Wen; Han-Guo, Xie

2016-01-22

To understand the epidemic status of human intestinal parasitic diseases and evaluate the effect of the control program in Nanping City, so as to provide an evidence for improving the disease control. The villages were selected by the stratified cluster sampling method and the residents in these villages were surveyed for human intestinal parasitic diseases, and kindergartens were also selected and the children in these kindergartens were surveyed for Enterobius vermicularis infection. In 2007, before the control program, 9 851 residents of Nanping City were surveyed, with the parasitic infection rate of 9.10% (896 infection cases), and the infection rate of E. vermicularis of children was 18.56% (328/1 767). From 2011 to 2014, when the control program was performed, 4 679 residents were surveyed, with the infection rate of 4.06% (190 infection cases), and the infection rate of E. vermicularis of children was 3.87% (33/853). After the control program was launched, the infection rates of human intestinal parasites were decreased. The overall parasitic infection rate and hookworm infection rate showed increasing trends by age ( χ 2 = 49.03 and 53.58 respectively, both P < 0.01). The infection situation of human intestinal parasites is decreased after the implementation of the control program but the infection rate is still at a high level, and the control work should be strengthened.

Thermal properties of nonstoichiometry uranium dioxide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kavazauri, R.; Pokrovskiy, S. A.; Baranov, V. G.; Tenishev, A. V.

2016-04-01

In this paper, was developed a method of oxidation pure uranium dioxide to a predetermined deviation from the stoichiometry. Oxidation was carried out using the thermogravimetric method on NETZSCH STA 409 CD with a solid electrolyte galvanic cell for controlling the oxygen potential of the environment. 4 samples uranium oxide were obtained with a different ratio of oxygen-to-metal: O / U = 2.002, O / U = 2.005, O / U = 2.015, O / U = 2.033. For the obtained samples were determined basic thermal characteristics of the heat capacity, thermal diffusivity, thermal conductivity. The error of heat capacity determination is equal to 5%. Thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity of the samples decreased with increasing deviation from stoichiometry. For the sample with O / M = 2.033, difference of both values with those of stoichiometric uranium dioxide is close to 50%.

Liquid balance monitoring inside conventional, Retrofit, and bio-reactor landfill cells

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Abichou, Tarek, E-mail: abichou@eng.fsu.edu; Barlaz, Morton A.; Green, Roger

Highlights: • The Retrofit, Control, and As-Built cells received 48, 14, and 213 L Mg{sup −1} (liters of liquids per metric ton of waste). • The leachate collection system yielded 60, 57 and 198 L Mg{sup −1} from the Retrofit, Control, and As-Built cells. • The head on liner in all cells was below regulatory limits. • Measured moisture content of the waste samples was consistent with that calculated from accumulated liquid by balance. • The in-place saturated hydraulic conductivity of the MSW was calculated to be in the range of 10{sup −8} to 10{sup −7} m s{sup −1}. -more » Abstract: The Outer Loop landfill bioreactor (OLLB) in Louisville, KY, USA has been the site of a study to evaluate long-term bioreactor performance at a full-scale operational landfill. Three types of landfill units were studied including a conventional landfill (Control cell), a new landfill area that had an air addition and recirculation piping network installed as waste was being placed (As-Built cell), and a conventional landfill that was modified to allow for liquids recirculation (Retrofit cell). During the monitoring period, the Retrofit, Control, and As-Built cells received 48, 14, and 213 L Mg{sup −1} (liters of liquids per metric ton of waste), respectively. The leachate collection system yielded 60, 57 and 198 L Mg{sup −1} from the Retrofit, Control, and As-Built cells, respectively. The head on liner in all cells was below regulatory limits. In the Control and As-Built cells, leachate head on liner decreased once waste placement stopped. The measured moisture content of the waste samples was consistent with that calculated from the estimate of accumulated liquid by the liquid balance. Additionally, measurements on excavated solid waste samples revealed large spatial variability in waste moisture content. The degree of saturation in the Control cells decreased from 85% to 75%. The degree of saturation increased from 82% to 83% due to liquids addition in the Retrofit cells and decreased back to 80% once liquid addition stopped. In the As-Built cells, the degree of saturation increased from 87% to 97% during filling activities and then started to decrease soon after filling activities stopped to reach 92% at the end of the monitoring period. The measured leachate generation rates were used to estimate an in-place saturated hydraulic conductivity of the MSW in the range of 10{sup −8} to 10{sup −7} m s{sup −1} which is lower than previous reports. In the Control and Retrofit cells, the net loss in liquids, 43 and 12 L Mg{sup −1}, respectively, was similar to the measured settlement of 15% and 5–8% strain, respectively (Abichou et al., 2013). The increase in net liquid volume in the As-Built cells indicates that the 37% (average) measured settlement strain in these cells cannot be due to consolidation as the waste mass did not lose any moisture but rather suggests that settlement was attributable to lubrication of waste particle contacts, softening of flexible porous materials, and additional biological degradation.« less

Spacelab 1 hematology experiment (INS103): Influence of space flight on erythrokinetics in man

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leach, C. S.; Chen, J. P.; Crosby, W.; Dunn, C. D. R.; Johnson, P. C.; Lange, R. D.; Larkin, E.; Tavassoli, M.

1985-01-01

An experiment conducted on the 10-day Spacelab 1 mission aboard the ninth Space Shuttle flight in November to December 1983 was designed to measure factors involved in the control of erythrocyte turnover that might be altered during weightlessness. Blood samples were collected before, during, and after the flight. Immediately after landing, red cell mass showed a mean decrease of 9.3 percent in the four astronauts. Neither hyperoxia nor an increase in blood phosphate was a cause of the decrease. Red cell survival time and iron incorporation postflight were not significantly different from their preflight levels. Serum haptoglobin did not decrease, indicating that intravascular hemolysis was not a major cause of red cell mass change. An increase in serum ferritin after the second day of flight may have been caused by red cell breakdown early in flight. Erythropoietin levels decreased during and after flight, but preflight levels were high and the decrease was not significant. The space flight-induced decrease in red cell mass may result from a failure of erythropoiesis to replace cells destroyed by the spleen soon after weightlessness is attained.

Short-term effects of soybean oil supplementation on performance, digestion, and metabolism in dairy cows fed sugarcane-based diets.

PubMed

Rodrigues, João Paulo P; de Paula, Ricardo M; Rennó, Luciana N; Fontes, Marta M S; Machado, Andreia F; de C Valadares Filho, Sebastião; Huhtanen, Pekka; Marcondes, Marcos I

2017-06-01

We aimed to quantify the productive and metabolic responses, and digestive changes in dairy cows fed various concentrations of soybean oil (SBO) in high-concentrate, sugarcane-based diets. Eight rumen-cannulated multiparous Holstein cows in mid lactation (574 ± 19.1 kg of body weight and 122 ± 6.9 d in milk), averaging 22.5 ± 1.22 kg/d of milk were assigned to replicated 4 × 4 Latin squares. The experimental period lasted 21 d as follows: 14 d for adaptation, followed by a sampling period from d 15 to 21. The diets were formulated with increasing concentrations of SBO [% of dry matter (DM)]: control (0%), low (LSBO; 1.57%), medium (MSBO; 4.43%), and high (HSBO; 7.34%). Dry matter intake decreased quadratically in response to SBO addition. The greatest decrease in DM intake was observed in MSBO and HSBO diets. Both milk and energy-corrected milk yield were quadratically affected by the SBO inclusion, with a slight decrease up to MSBO and substantial decrease in the HSBO diet. The milk fat concentration linearly decreased from 3.78% in the control to 3.50% in the HSBO diet. The potentially digestible neutral detergent fiber digestibility in the rumen decreased from 55.7% in the control to 35.2% in the HSBO diet. The fractional rate of digestion of potentially digestible neutral detergent fiber in the rumen decreased linearly from 3.13 to 1.39%/h from the control to HSBO diet. The fractional rate of indigestible neutral detergent fiber passage in the rumen was quadratically affected, with the lowest value (2.25%/h) for the HSBO diet. Rumen pH increased from 6.42 to 6.67, and ammonia nitrogen decreased from 28.1 to 21.4 mg/dL, in the control and HSBO diets, respectively. Rumen volatile fatty acids decreased quadratically, with the greatest decrease observed in MSBO and HSBO diets. Serum concentrations of glucose, fatty acids, and β-hydroxybutyrate were unaffected by SBO inclusion. However, serum concentrations of total cholesterol and high- and low-density lipoproteins linearly increased with increasing concentrations of SBO in the diet. Inclusion of SBO at concentrations from 4.43 to 7.34% of the diet DM decreased DM intake, energy-corrected milk production, fiber digestibility, and rumen fermentation and was thus not recommended. Soybean oil supplementation at 1.57% of the diet DM proved to be a safe concentration for dairy cows fed high-concentrate diets with sugarcane as the sole forage. Copyright © 2017 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Depression, antidepressants, and bone mineral density in a population-based cohort.

PubMed

Mezuk, Briana; Eaton, William W; Golden, Sherita Hill; Wand, Gary; Lee, Hochang Benjamin

2008-12-01

It is uncertain whether depression and antidepressant use are associated with decreased bone mineral density (BMD) and whether these relationships differ for men and women. The study used a case-cohort design within the Baltimore Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study, a population-based sample of adults that recently completed its 23-year follow-up. Depression was measured at four time points during the follow-up period by the Diagnostic Interview Schedule. Lower spine BMD was measured at the fourth wave by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. The association of BMD with lifetime history of depression and antidepressant medication use was studied using linear regression with bootstrap standard errors. A history of depression was associated with lower spine BMD after controlling for age, sex, race, calcium intake, alcohol use, smoking status, level of physical activity, percent body fat, and antidepressant medication use (-0.140 g/cm(2); p <.002). After controlling for depression, antidepressant medication use was associated with decreased BMD in women but not in men (-0.218 g/cm(2); p <.016). A history of depression predicted decreased lumbar spine BMD in men and women, and antidepressant use predicted decreased BMD in women even after controlling for depression. The magnitude of the effect of depression on BMD was approximately equivalent to 1 standard deviation in BMD and was therefore clinically significant. Providers should be aware of the physiologic consequences of depression as well as the possible risks to bone strength associated with antidepressant use in older patients.

[Involvement of cellular immunity and humoral immunity in mixed allergy induced by trichloroethylene].

PubMed

Xu, Xinyun; Li, Xueyu; Liu, Yuefeng

2014-12-01

To investigate whether cellular immunity and humoral immunity are involved in trichlorethylene (TCE)-induced mixed allergy, then provide the scientific basis for the mechanism of this disease. Guinea pigs and rats were tested for this study by application of guinea pig maximization test (GPMT), the animals were randomly divided into negative control, positive control and TCE treatment groups. Animals of these groups were administrated with olive oil, 2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), and TCE, respectively, by intradermal injection. After TCE administration, rat peripheral blood samples were collected by flow cytometry to detect lymphocytes CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺. Guinea pig peripheral blood samples were collected to detect the levels of IgG, IgA, IgM, C3, C4, and the spleens were taken out from guinea pigs after various treatment, mRNA expression of GATA3, T-bet, CTLA4 and Foxp3 in lymphocytes of guinea pig spleen was detected by real-time fluorescent PCR assay. Additionally, TCE allergic dermatitis patients were selected for the study, the peripheral blood samples were collected from the TCE patients group and control group, quantitative PCR was applied to detect mRNA expression of immune-related genes Foxp3, GATA3, CTLA4, T-bet. TCE induced obvious skin allergic reaction in guinea pigs, the sensitization rate was 83.3%, IgG levels in TCE group and positive control increased significantly. Additionally, mRNA expression levels of GATA3, T-bet, CTLA4 significantly elevated in TCE group and positive control, but Foxp3 mRNA levels decreased. The lymphocytes CD3⁺ ratio in TCE group and positive control of rats was higher than that in negative control, we found that there was no statistical difference of CD4⁺, CD8⁺, CD4⁺/CD8⁺ between TCE group and negative control of rats. The mRNA expression levels of Foxp3, GATA3, CTLA4 in TCE patients increased by 115%, 97%, 241%, respectively as compared with the control, T-bet levels decreased by 47%when compared with the control. TCE could induce obvious changes of cellular immunity and humoral immunity in guinea pigs, rats, and TCE patients, these findings indicated that TCE-induced immunological disorder belongs to the mixed allergy with involvment of cellular immunity and humoral immunity, the mixed allergy might be type IV and type II allergy.

Altered intrinsic brain activity after chemotherapy in patients with gastric cancer: A preliminary study.

PubMed

Kim, Hyun Gi; Shin, Na-Young; Bak, Yunjin; Kim, Kyung Ran; Jung, Young-Chul; Han, Kyunghwa; Lee, Seung-Koo; Lim, Soo Mee

2017-07-01

To characterize the pattern of altered intrinsic brain activity in gastric cancer patients after chemotherapy (CTx). Patients before and after CTx (n = 14) and control subjects (n = 11) underwent resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI) at baseline and 3 months after CTx. Regional homogeneity (ReHo), amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF), and fractional ALFF (fALFF) were calculated and compared between the groups using the two-sample t test. Correlation analysis was also performed between rsfMRI values (i.e., ReHo, ALFF, and fALFF) and neuropsychological test results. Patients showed poor performance in verbal memory and executive function and decreased rsfMRI values in the frontal areas even before CTx and showed decreased attention/working memory and executive function after CTx compared to the control subjects. In direct comparison of values before and after CTx, there were no significant differences in neuropsychological test scores, but decreased rsfMRI values were observed at the frontal lobes and right cerebellar region. Among rsfMRI values, lower ALFF in the left inferior frontal gyrus was significantly associated with poor performance of the executive function test. We observed decreased attention/working memory and executive function that corresponded to the decline of frontal region activation in gastric cancer patients who underwent CTx. • Intrinsic brain activity of gastric cancer patients after chemotherapy was described. • Brain activity and neuropsychological test results were correlated. • Working memory and executive function decreased after chemotherapy. • Decreased cognitive function corresponded to decreased activation of the frontal region.

Short-term effects of prescribed fire for pasture management on soil water repellency in the Central Pyrenees (NE-Spain)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Girona García, Antonio; María Armas-Herrera, Cecilia; Martí-Dalmau, Clara; Badía-Villas, David; Ortiz-Perpiñán, Oriol

2016-04-01

The decrease of livestock grazing during the last decades in the Central Pyrenees has led to a regression of grasslands in favour of shrublands, mainly composed by Echinospartum horridum. Prescribed burning might be a suitable tool for the control of this species that limits pastures development and therefore, the reclamation of grasslands; although, its effects on soil properties are still uncertain [1]. Controlled burnings are usually performed in spring or autumn, when soil moisture is high and temperature low, being easier to control and also reducing its effects on soil properties. However, burning during the wet seasons can increase the risk of soil erosion as the vegetation cover is partially destroyed. In this sense, soil water repellency (SWR) plays an important role reducing the infiltration rates and, thus, increasing runoff and soil erosion [2]. Then, it is of special interest to study parameters that influence SWR such as soil moisture, soil organic carbon (SOC) content and soil biological activity [3]. The aim of this work is, to analyse the effects of controlled burning on SWR as well as some of the influencing factors on this parameter. To achieve this, soil sampling was carried out in two prescribed fire events that took place in the Central Pyrenees: Tella (April, 2015) and Buisán (November, 2015). Temperature was simultaneously recorded during the fire via thermocouples placed at the surface level and at 1 cm, 2 cm and 3 cm depth. In each event, topsoil was scrapped and sampled from 0-1 cm, 1-2 cm and 2-3 cm depth in each sampling point (3 for Tella and 4 for Buisán) just before and immediately after burning. We analysed SWR persistence (Water Drop Penetration Time, WDPT) and intensity (Ethanol Percentage Test, EPT) as well as total C and N, microbial C, β-glucosidase activity, soil moisture and pH. Temperature measurements indicated a higher fire intensity in Tella than in Buisán burning. Surface unburned samples presented extreme SWR values for Tella (2726 s) and strong values for Buisán (191 s) according to the WDPT test, significantly decreasing with depth. Preliminary results showed that burning affected SWR, significantly reducing WDPT down to 3 cm in Tella (from extreme to strong) and 2 cm depth in Buisán (from strong to slight). EPT results indicated a significant decrease in SWR intensity down to 2 cm in Tella and 1 cm in Buisán with burning. On the other hand, no differences were observed regarding soil moisture between burned and unburned samples, although a trend to decreasing was observed with fire. Further analyses will allow us to explain and support in detail the variations observed in SWR with prescribed burning. [1] Shakesby, R.A. et al. (2015). Impacts of prescribed fire on soil loss and soil quality: An assessment based on an experimentally-burned catchment in central Portugal. Catena 128: 278-293. [2] Bodí, M.B. et al. (2013). Spatial and temporal variations of water repellency and probability of its occurrence in calcareous Mediterranean rangeland soils affected by fire. Catena 108: 14-25. [3] Jordán, A. et al. (2013). Soil water repellency: Origin, assessment and geomorphological consequences. Catena 108: 1-5.

Decreased salivary matrix metalloproteinase-8 reflecting a defensive potential in juvenile parotitis.

PubMed

Saarinen, Riitta; Pitkäranta, Anne; Kolho, Kaija-Leena; Tervahartiala, Taina; Sorsa, Timo; Lauhio, Anneli

2016-01-01

Matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 have been associated with juvenile parotitis. However, the role of MMP-8 has not been addressed previously. This work focuses on salivary MMP-8 and -9 levels in juvenile parotitis. During a five-year period at Helsinki University Hospital, a tertiary care hospital, 41 patients aged 17 or under, were identified as having parotitis; from 36 of these patients, saliva samples were collected for MMP-8 IFMA (time-resolved immunofluorometric assay) analyses. Control saliva samples were collected from 34 age- and gender-matched children admitted for an elective surgery who had no history of parotitis. For comparison, salivary levels of MMP-9, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP-1), MMP-8/TIMP-1 ratio, human neutrophil elastase (HNE), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were analyzed by ELISA. Additionally, salivary MMP-8 levels were compared to historical saliva samples from 18 adult gingivitis patients as well as to 10 healthy adult controls. The median (25%, 75% percentile) MMP-8 concentration in saliva of parotitis patients was significantly lower than MMP-8 concentration in saliva of their controls [50.4ng/ml (37.5, 72.9) vs. 148.5ng/ml (101.2, 178.5) p<0.0001] and lower than in patients with gingivitis [347.9ng/ml (242.6, 383.2) p<0.0001] or healthy adult controls [257.2ng/ml (164.9, 320.7) p<0.0001]. The MMP-8/TIMP-1 ratio was lower than in controls [0.13 (0.05-0.02) vs. 0.3 (0.17-0.46) p<0.0001]. The median MMP-9 concentration in saliva of parotitis patients was significantly higher than in controls [143.9ng/m (68.8-189.0) vs. 34.9ng/ml (16.3-87.6) p<0.0001]. Neither HNE, MPO, nor TIMP-1 alone separated the patients from the control groups. MMP-9 was up-regulated in juvenile parotitis saliva, suggesting that MMP-9 may play a destructive role in juvenile parotitis, as others have suggested. The present novel findings reveal a decreased salivary MMP-8 concentration, suggesting that MMP-8 may reflect in juvenile parotitis down-regulated or anti-inflammatory immune characteristics. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

The role of silver in the processing and properties of Bi-2212

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lang, T.; Heeb, B.; Buhl, D.

1994-12-31

The influence of the silver content and the oxygen partial pressure on the solidus temperature and the weight loss during melting of Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2}Ca{sub 1}Cu{sub 2}O{sub x} has been examined by means of DTA and TGA. By decreasing the oxygen partial pressure the solidus is lowered (e.g. {triangle}T=59{degrees}C by decreasing pO{sub 2} from 1 atm to 0.001 atm) and the weight loss is increased. The addition of silver causes two effects: (a) the solidus is further decreased (e.g. 2wt% Ag lower T{sub solidus} by up to 25{degrees}C, depending on the oxygen partial pressure), (b) the weight loss during meltingmore » is reduced. Thick films (10-20 {mu}m in thickness) with 0 and 5 wt% silver and bulk samples with 0 and 2.7 wt% silver were melt processed in flowing oxygen on a silver substrate in the DTA, allowing the observation of the melting process and a good temperature control. The critical current densities are vigorously dependent on the maximum processing temperature. The highest j{sub c} in thick films (8000 A/cm{sup 2} at 77 K, O T) was reached by melting 7{degrees}C above the solidus temperature. The silver addition shows no significant effect on the processing parameters or the superconducting properties. The highest j{sub c} for bulk samples (1 mm in thickness) was obtained by partial melting at 900{degrees}C or 880{degrees}C, depending on the silver content of the powder (0 or 2.7 wt%). The j{sub c} of the samples is slightly enhanced from 1800 A/cm{sup 2} (at 77 K, O T) to 2000 A/cm{sup 2} by the silver addition. To be able to reach at least 80% of the maximum critical current density, the temperature has to be controlled in a window of 5{degrees}C for thick films and 17{degrees}C for bulk samples.« less

Prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and performance by beef feedlot cattle given Lactobacillus direct-fed microbials.

PubMed

Brashears, M M; Galyean, M L; Loneragan, G H; Mann, J E; Killinger-Mann, K

2003-05-01

Fecal shedding of Escherichia coli O157:H7, the prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in pens and on carcasses and hides, and cattle performance as a result of daily dietary supplementation with Lactobacillus-based direct-fed microbials (DFMs) were evaluated in a feeding trial involving 180 beef steers. Steers were evaluated for shedding of E. coli O157:H7 by an immunomagnetic separation technique on arrival at the feedlot, just before treatment with the DFMs, and every 14 days thereafter until slaughter. Composite pen fecal samples were collected every 14 days (alternating weeks with animal testing), and prevalence on hides and carcasses at slaughter was also evaluated. Feedlot performance (body weight gain and feed intake) was measured for the period during which the DFMs were fed. Gain efficiency was calculated as the ratio of weight gain to feed intake. Lactobacillus acidophilus NPC 747 decreased (P < 0.01) the shedding of E. coli O157:H7 in the feces of individual cattle during the feeding period. E. coli O157:H7 was approximately twice as likely to be detected in control animal samples as in samples from animals receiving L. acidophilus NPC 747. In addition, DFM supplementation decreased (P < 0.05) the number of E. coli O157:H7-positive hide samples at harvest and the number of pens testing positive for the pathogen. Body weight gains (on a live or carcass basis) and feed intakes during the DFM supplementation period did not differ among treatments. Gain efficiencies on a live-weight basis did not differ among treatments, but carcass-based gain/feed ratios tended (P < 0.06) to be better for animals receiving the two DFM treatments than for control animals. The results of this study suggest that the feeding of a Lactobacillus-based DFM to cattle will decrease, but not eliminate, fecal shedding of E. coli O157:H7, as well as contamination on hides, without detrimental effects on performance.

Resting and Activated Natural Tregs Decrease in the Peripheral Blood of Patients with Atherosclerosis.

PubMed

Yazdani, Mohammadreza; Khosropanah, Shahdad; Hosseini, Ahmad; Doroudchi, Mehrnoosh

2016-12-01

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting large and medium arteries. CD4+ T cells are known to play a role in the progression of the disease. CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ natural Treg (nTreg) cells seem to have a protective role in the disease and their reduction in acute coronary syndrome is recently shown. To investigate the frequency of nTreg subsets in the peripheral blood of patients with atherosclerosis. Confirmation of atherosclerosis was done by angiography and 15 ml heparinized blood was obtained from each of the 13 non-diabetic patients and 13 non-diabetic, non-smoker individuals with normal/insignificant coronary artery disease confirmed by angiography. Lipid profiles of the patients and controls were measured at the time of sampling. Mononuclear cells were used for both RNA extraction and immunophenotyping by real-time PCR and flowcytometry techniques, respectively. In natural Treg subsets, the frequency of CD4+CD45RO-CD25+Foxp3lo T-cells (resting nTregs) was greater in controls than patients (p=0.02). The frequency of CD4+CD45RO+CD25hiFoxp3hi T-cells (activated nTregs) was significantly higher in controls compared with patients (p=0.02). However, the frequency of CD4+CD25+CD45RO+Foxp3- T-cells (effector/memory T-cell) increased in patients compared with controls (p=0.01). Both the MFI and gene expression of Foxp3 were higher in control group than in patients (p=0.015 and p=0.017, respectively). Moreover, the TGF-β gene expression showed a decrease in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients compared with controls (p=0.03). Decrease in both subsets of resting and activated nTregs along with a decrease in the expression of Foxp3 and TGF-β genes in patients with atherosclerosis suggests phenotypic changes in these subsets, which may as well be correlated with a more inflammatory profile in their lymphocytes.

Anterior Cingulate Cortex γ-Aminobutyric Acid in Depressed Adolescents

PubMed Central

Gabbay, Vilma; Mao, Xiangling; Klein, Rachel G.; Ely, Benjamin A.; Babb, James S.; Panzer, Aviva M.; Alonso, Carmen M.; Shungu, Dikoma C.

2013-01-01

Context Anhedonia, a core symptom of major depressive disorder (MDD) and highly variable among adolescents with MDD, may involve alterations in the major inhibitory amino acid neurotransmitter system of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Objective To test whether anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) GABA levels, measured by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, are decreased in adolescents with MDD. The associations of GABA alterations with the presence and severity of anhedonia were explored. Design Case-control, cross-sectional study using single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 3 T. Setting Two clinical research divisions at 2 teaching hospitals. Participants Twenty psychotropic medication-free adolescents with MDD (10 anhedonic, 12 female, aged 12–19 years) with episode duration of 8 weeks or more and 21 control subjects group matched for sex and age. Main Outcome Measures Anterior cingulate cortex GABA levels expressed as ratios relative to unsuppressed voxel tissue water (w) and anhedonia scores expressed as a continuous variable. Results Compared with control subjects, adolescents with MDD had significantly decreased ACC GABA/w (t= 3.2; P<.003). When subjects with MDD were categorized based on the presence of anhedonia, only anhedonic patients had decreased GABA/w levels compared with control subjects (t=4.08; P<.001; PTukey<.001). Anterior cingulate cortex GABA/w levels were negatively correlated with anhedonia scores for the whole MDD group (r = −0.50; P = .02), as well as for the entire participant sample including the control subjects (r=−0.54; P<.001). Anterior cingulate cortex white matter was also significantly decreased in adolescents with MDD compared with controls (P=.04). Conclusions These findings suggest that GABA, the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, may be implicated in adolescent MDD and, more specifically, in those with anhedonia. In addition, use of a continuous rather than categorical scale of anhedonia, as in the present study, may permit greater specificity in evaluating this important clinical feature. PMID:21969419

Preservation Effect of Two-Stage Cinnamon Bark (Cinnamomum Burmanii) Oleoresin Microcapsules On Vacuum-Packed Ground Beef During Refrigerated Storage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Irfiana, D.; Utami, R.; Khasanah, L. U.; Manuhara, G. J.

2017-04-01

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of two stage cinnamon bark oleoresin microcapsules (0%, 0.5% and 1%) on the TPC (Total Plate Count), TBA (thiobarbituric acid), pH, and RGB color (Red, Green, and Blue) of vacuum-packed ground beef during refrigerated storage (at 0, 4, 8, 12, and 16 days). This study showed that the addition of two stage cinnamon bark oleoresin microcapsules affected the quality of vacuum-packed ground beef during 16 days of refrigerated storage. The results showed that the TPC value of the vacuum-packed ground beef sample with the addition 0.5% and 1% microcapsules was lower than the value of control sample. The TPC value of the control sample, sample with additional 0.5% and 1% microcapsules were 5.94; 5.46; and 5.16 log CFU/g respectively. The TBA value of vacuum-packed ground beef were 0.055; 0.041; and 0.044 mg malonaldehyde/kg, resepectively on the 16th day of storage. The addition of two-stage cinnamon bark oleoresin microcapsules could inhibit the growth of microbia and decrease the oxidation process of vacuum-packed ground beef. Moreover, the change of vacuum-packed ground beef pH and RGB color with the addition 0.5% and 1% microcapsules were less than those of the control sample. The addition of 1% microcapsules showed the best effect in preserving the vacuum-packed ground beef.

Synthesis of TiO2 nanotubes with ZnO nanoparticles to achieve antibacterial properties and stem cell compatibility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Wenwen; Su, Penglei; Chen, Su; Wang, Na; Ma, Yuanping; Liu, Yiran; Wang, Jinshu; Zhang, Zhenting; Li, Hongyi; Webster, Thomas J.

2014-07-01

To endow titanium (Ti) with antibacterial properties, different concentrations of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were decorated on anodized titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotubes by a simple hydrothermal treatment method. The particle sizes of ZnO, which were evenly distributed and tightly adherent to the walls of the Ti nanotubes, ranged from 20-50 nm. Results from this study showed that Zn was released from the TiO2 nanotubes in a constant, slow, and biologically inspired manner. Importantly, the results showed that the ZnO decorated TiO2 nanotubular samples inhibited Streptococcus mutants and Porphyromonas gingivalis growth compared to control unmodified Ti samples. Specifically, S. mutants and P. gingivalis growth were both reduced 45-85% on the ZnO decorated Ti samples compared to Ti controls after 7 days of culture. When examining the mechanism of action, it has been further found for the first time that the ZnO decorated Ti samples inhibited the expression of Streptococcus mutans bacterial adhesion genes. Lastly, the results showed that the same samples which decreased bacterial growth the most (0.015 M precursor Zn(NO3)2 samples) did not inhibit mesenchymal stem cell growth compared to Ti controls for up to 7 days. In summary, results from this study showed that compared to plain TiO2 nanotubes, TiO2 decorated with 0.015 M ZnO provided unprecedented antibacterial properties while maintaining the stem cell proliferation capacity necessary for enhancing the use of Ti in numerous medical applications, particularly in dentistry.

Pyrethroids in human breast milk: occurrence and nursing daily intake estimation.

PubMed

Corcellas, Cayo; Feo, Maria Luisa; Torres, Joao Paulo; Malm, Olaf; Ocampo-Duque, William; Eljarrat, Ethel; Barceló, Damià

2012-10-15

There is an assumption that pyrethroid pesticides are converted to non-toxic metabolites by hydrolysis in mammals. However, some recent works have shown their bioaccumulation in human breast milk collected in areas where pyrethroids have been widely used for agriculture or malaria control. In this work, thirteen pyrethroids have been studied in human breast milk samples coming from areas without pyrethroid use for malaria control, such as Brazil, Colombia and Spain. The concentrations of pyrethroids ranged from 1.45 to 24.2 ng g⁻¹ lw. Cypermethrin, λ-cyhalothrin, permethrin and esfenvalerate/fenvalerate were present in all the studied samples. The composition of pyrethroid mixture depended on the country of origin of the samples, bifenthrin being the most abundant in Brazilian samples, λ-cyhalothrin in Colombian and permethrin in Spanish ones. When the pyrethroid concentrations were confronted against the number of gestations, an exponential decay was observed. Moreover, a time trend study was carried out in Brazil, where additional archived pool samples were analyzed, corresponding to years when pyrethroids were applied for dengue epidemic control. In these cases, total pyrethroid levels reached up to 128 ng g⁻¹ lw, and concentrations decreased when massive use was not allowed. Finally, daily intake estimation of nursing infants was calculated in each country and compared to acceptable WHO levels. The estimated daily intakes for nursing infants were always below the acceptable daily intake levels, nevertheless in certain samples the detected concentrations were very close to the maximum acceptable levels. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Synthesis of TiO2 nanotubes with ZnO nanoparticles to achieve antibacterial properties and stem cell compatibility.

PubMed

Liu, Wenwen; Su, Penglei; Chen, Su; Wang, Na; Ma, Yuanping; Liu, Yiran; Wang, Jinshu; Zhang, Zhenting; Li, Hongyi; Webster, Thomas J

2014-08-07

To endow titanium (Ti) with antibacterial properties, different concentrations of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were decorated on anodized titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotubes by a simple hydrothermal treatment method. The particle sizes of ZnO, which were evenly distributed and tightly adherent to the walls of the Ti nanotubes, ranged from 20-50 nm. Results from this study showed that Zn was released from the TiO2 nanotubes in a constant, slow, and biologically inspired manner. Importantly, the results showed that the ZnO decorated TiO2 nanotubular samples inhibited Streptococcus mutants and Porphyromonas gingivalis growth compared to control unmodified Ti samples. Specifically, S. mutants and P. gingivalis growth were both reduced 45-85% on the ZnO decorated Ti samples compared to Ti controls after 7 days of culture. When examining the mechanism of action, it has been further found for the first time that the ZnO decorated Ti samples inhibited the expression of Streptococcus mutans bacterial adhesion genes. Lastly, the results showed that the same samples which decreased bacterial growth the most (0.015 M precursor Zn(NO3)2 samples) did not inhibit mesenchymal stem cell growth compared to Ti controls for up to 7 days. In summary, results from this study showed that compared to plain TiO2 nanotubes, TiO2 decorated with 0.015 M ZnO provided unprecedented antibacterial properties while maintaining the stem cell proliferation capacity necessary for enhancing the use of Ti in numerous medical applications, particularly in dentistry.

Everything under control? The effects of age, gender, and education on trajectories of perceived control in a nationally representative German sample.

PubMed

Specht, Jule; Egloff, Boris; Schmukle, Stefan C

2013-02-01

Perceived control is an important variable for various demands involved in successful aging. However, perceived control is not set in stone but rather changes throughout the life course. The aim of this study was to identify cross-sectional age differences and longitudinal mean-level changes as well as rank-order changes in perceived control with respect to gender and education. Furthermore, changes in income and health were analyzed to explain trajectories of perceived control. In a large and representative sample of Germans across all of adulthood, 9,484 individuals gave information about their perceived control twice over a period of 6 years. Using locally weighted smoothing (LOESS) curves and latent structural equation modeling, four main findings were revealed: (a) Perceived control increased until ages 30-40, then decreased until about age 60, and increased slightly afterwards. (b) The rank order of individuals in perceived control was relatively unstable, especially in young adulthood, and reached a plateau at about age 40. (c) Men perceived that they had more control than did women, but there were no gender differences in the development of perceived control. (d) Individuals with more education perceived that they had more control than those with less education, and there were slight differences in the development of perceived control dependent on education. Taken together, these findings offer important insights into the development of perceived control across the life span. (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved.

A population-based dietary intervention trial in a high-risk area for stomach cancer and stroke: changes in intakes and related biomarkers.

PubMed

Takashashi, Yoshiko; Sasaki, Satoshi; Takahashi, Masako; Okubo, Shunji; Hayashi, Masato; Tsugane, Shoichiro

2003-11-01

Dietary intervention is one of the important fields in cancer and cardiovascular disease prevention. The Hiraka Dietary Intervention Study is a community-based randomized cross-over trial designed to develop an effective dietary modification tool and system in an area with high mortality of stomach cancer and stroke. The subjects were 550 healthy volunteers and were randomized into two groups with tailored dietary education to decrease sodium intake and to increase vitamin C and carotene intakes either in the first year (intervention group) or in the second year (control group). Dietary changes were assessed using a validated self-administered diet history questionnaire, fasting blood samples, and 48-hour urine samples, which were obtained before and after the one year period. During the first year, changes differed significantly between the intervention and control group for both dietary sodium intake (-384 and +255 mg/day, intervention and control respectively, p < 0.001) and urinary sodium excretion (-1003 and -84 mg/day, p < 0.001). Although favorable net changes were also observed in dietary carotene (+418 and +220 mug/day, p < 0.05) and vitamin C (+13 and +2 mg/day, p < 0.05), the serum level differences were modest (+13 and -25 mg/L, p = 0.09 for carotene, +0.1 and -0.5 mg/L, p = 0.07 for ascorbic acid). The present dietary intervention strategy effectively decreased sodium and increased carotene and vitamin C intakes, although the former was more distinct.

Human semen refrigeration at + 4 degrees C: bio-kinetic characteristics.

PubMed

Dondero, Franco; Rossi, Tiziana; Delfino, Michele; Imbrogno, Norina; Cannistrà, Stefania; Mazzilli, Fernando

2006-01-01

The aim of our study was to evaluate the bio-kinetic characteristics of human semen refrigerated for different periods and to compare the effects of refrigeration at +4 degrees C against cryopreservation of human sperm at -196 degrees C. Semen was obtained from 30 male partners of infertile couples (infertile subjects) with the following semen profile: sperm count >or=10 x 10(6)/ml; progressive motility >or=20%; atypical forms <70% and white blood cells <1.0 x 10(6)/ml. Fifteen normospermic subjects were also selected as controls (control subjects). The following tests were carried out on basal, refrigerated and cryopreserved sperm: a) sperm kinetic properties (by Superimposed Image Analysis System); b) the Hypoosmotic Viability Test (HVT) (combined Hypoosmotic Swelling and Viability Test). The results of the study showed that the percentage recovery of kinetic properties and of HVT were optimum for up to 48 h. After refrigeration for 72 h, a drastic decrease in straight motility recovery was observed. No significant differences were observed between cryopreservation and refrigeration at +4 degrees C for 48 h for motility or HVT recoveries in samples from control subjects. However, in infertile subjects, a significant decrease in straight progressive motility and HVT recoveries was observed in cryopreserved samples compared to those refrigerated for 48 h. Neither refrigeration nor cryopreservation led to the growth of pathogenic bacteria in any of the cases studied. Based on the above results, refrigeration could represent a useful alternative to the cryopreservation method.

Tuning the Mechanical and Antimicrobial Performance of a Cu-Based Metallic Glass Composite through Cooling Rate Control and Annealing.

PubMed

Villapún, Victor M; Esat, F; Bull, S; Dover, L G; González, S

2017-05-06

The influence of cooling rate on the wear and antimicrobial performance of a Cu 52 Z 41 Al₇ (at. %) bulk metallic glass (BMG) composite was studied and the results compared to those of the annealed sample (850 °C for 48 h) and to pure copper. The aim of this basic research is to explore the potential use of the material in preventing the spread of infections. The cooling rate is controlled by changing the mould diameter (2 mm and 3 mm) upon suction casting and controlling the mould temperature (chiller on and off). For the highest cooling rate conditions CuZr is formed but CuZr₂ starts to crystallise as the cooling rate decreases, resulting in an increase in the wear resistance and brittleness, as measured by scratch tests. A decrease in the cooling rate also increases the antimicrobial performance, as shown by different methodologies (European, American and Japanese standards). Annealing leads to the formation of new intermetallic phases (Cu 10 Zr₇ and Cu₂ZrAl) resulting in maximum scratch hardness and antimicrobial performance. However, the annealed sample corrodes during the antimicrobial tests (within 1 h of contact with broth). The antibacterial activity of copper was proved to be higher than that of any of the other materials tested but it exhibits very poor wear properties. Cu-rich BMG composites with optimised microstructure would be preferable for some applications where the durability requirements are higher than the antimicrobial needs.

Childhood chronic gastritis and duodenitis: Role of altered sensory neuromediators.

PubMed

Islek, Ali; Yilmaz, Aygen; Elpek, Gulsum Ozlem; Erin, Nuray

2016-10-07

To investigate the roles of the neuropeptides vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), substance P (SP), and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in chronic gastritis and duodenitis in children. Biopsy samples from the gastric and duodenal mucosa of 52 patients and 30 control subjects were obtained. Samples were taken for pathological examination, immunohistochemical staining, enzyme activity measurements and quantitative measurements of tissue peptide levels. We observed differential effects of the disease on peptide levels, which were somewhat different from previously reported changes in chronic gastritis in adults. Specifically, SP was increased and CGRP and VIP were decreased in patients with gastritis. The changes were more prominent at sites where gastritis was severe, but significant changes were also observed in neighboring areas where gastritis was less severe. Furthermore, the degree of changes was correlated with the pathological grade of the disease. The expression of CD10, the enzyme primarily involved in SP hydrolysis, was also decreased in patients with duodenitis. Based on these findings, we propose that decreased levels of VIP and CGRP and increased levels of SP contribute to pathological changes in gastric mucosa. Hence, new treatments targeting these molecules may have therapeutic and preventive effects.

Childhood chronic gastritis and duodenitis: Role of altered sensory neuromediators

PubMed Central

Islek, Ali; Yilmaz, Aygen; Elpek, Gulsum Ozlem; Erin, Nuray

2016-01-01

AIM To investigate the roles of the neuropeptides vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), substance P (SP), and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in chronic gastritis and duodenitis in children. METHODS Biopsy samples from the gastric and duodenal mucosa of 52 patients and 30 control subjects were obtained. Samples were taken for pathological examination, immunohistochemical staining, enzyme activity measurements and quantitative measurements of tissue peptide levels. RESULTS We observed differential effects of the disease on peptide levels, which were somewhat different from previously reported changes in chronic gastritis in adults. Specifically, SP was increased and CGRP and VIP were decreased in patients with gastritis. The changes were more prominent at sites where gastritis was severe, but significant changes were also observed in neighboring areas where gastritis was less severe. Furthermore, the degree of changes was correlated with the pathological grade of the disease. The expression of CD10, the enzyme primarily involved in SP hydrolysis, was also decreased in patients with duodenitis. CONCLUSION Based on these findings, we propose that decreased levels of VIP and CGRP and increased levels of SP contribute to pathological changes in gastric mucosa. Hence, new treatments targeting these molecules may have therapeutic and preventive effects. PMID:27729741

Humanoid Mobile Manipulation Using Controller Refinement

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Platt, Robert; Burridge, Robert; Diftler, Myron; Graf, Jodi; Goza, Mike; Huber, Eric; Brock, Oliver

2006-01-01

An important class of mobile manipulation problems are move-to-grasp problems where a mobile robot must navigate to and pick up an object. One of the distinguishing features of this class of tasks is its coarse-to-fine structure. Near the beginning of the task, the robot can only sense the target object coarsely or indirectly and make gross motion toward the object. However, after the robot has located and approached the object, the robot must finely control its grasping contacts using precise visual and haptic feedback. This paper proposes that move-to-grasp problems are naturally solved by a sequence of controllers that iteratively refines what ultimately becomes the final solution. This paper introduces the notion of a refining sequence of controllers and characterizes this type of solution. The approach is demonstrated in a move-to-grasp task where Robonaut, the NASA/JSC dexterous humanoid, is mounted on a mobile base and navigates to and picks up a geological sample box. In a series of tests, it is shown that a refining sequence of controllers decreases variance in robot configuration relative to the sample box until a successful grasp has been achieved.

Humanoid Mobile Manipulation Using Controller Refinement

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Platt, Robert; Burridge, Robert; Diftler, Myron; Graf, Jodi; Goza, Mike; Huber, Eric

2006-01-01

An important class of mobile manipulation problems are move-to-grasp problems where a mobile robot must navigate to and pick up an object. One of the distinguishing features of this class of tasks is its coarse-to-fine structure. Near the beginning of the task, the robot can only sense the target object coarsely or indirectly and make gross motion toward the object. However, after the robot has located and approached the object, the robot must finely control its grasping contacts using precise visual and haptic feedback. In this paper, it is proposed that move-to-grasp problems are naturally solved by a sequence of controllers that iteratively refines what ultimately becomes the final solution. This paper introduces the notion of a refining sequence of controllers and characterizes this type of solution. The approach is demonstrated in a move-to-grasp task where Robonaut, the NASA/JSC dexterous humanoid, is mounted on a mobile base and navigates to and picks up a geological sample box. In a series of tests, it is shown that a refining sequence of controllers decreases variance in robot configuration relative to the sample box until a successful grasp has been achieved.

Cell Therapy to Obtain Spinal Fusion

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-03-01

2006. 38. Backesjo, C.M., Li, Y., Lindgren, U., and Haldosen, L.A. Activation of Sirt1 decreases adipocyte formation during osteoblast...However, in the whole blood samples with the same number of white cells, BMP2 activity was equal to the control suggesting that either the vector was... supplemented with 2% FBS, with antibiotic-antimycotic. Since we previously determined that the critical factor for inducing bone formation is the level

Physical properties of Gelidium corneum-gelatin blend films containing grapefruit seed extract or green tea extract and its application in the packaging of pork loins.

PubMed

Hong, Y-H; Lim, G-O; Song, K B

2009-01-01

Edible Gelidium corneum-gelatin (GCG) blend films containing grapefruit seed extract (GFSE) or green tea extract (GTE) were manufactured, and the quality of pork loins packed with the film during storage was determined. Tensile strength (TS) and water vapor permeability (WVP) of the films containing GFSE or GTE were better than those of the control. The film's antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes increased with increasing antimicrobial concentration, resulting in a decrease in the populations of bacteria by 0.77 to 2.08 and 0.91 to 3.30 log CFU/g, respectively. Pork loin samples were inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes. The samples packed with the GCG film containing GFSE (0.08%) or GTE (2.80%) had a decrease in the populations of E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes of 0.69 to 1.11 and 1.05 to 1.14 log CFU/g, respectively, compared to the control after 4 d of storage. The results showed that the quality of pork loins during storage could be improved by packaging them with the GCG film containing GFSE or GTE.

Evaluation of immunologic effect of Enniatin A and quantitative determination in feces, urine and serum on treated Wistar rats.

PubMed

Juan, Cristina; Manyes, Lara; Font, Guillermina; Juan-García, Ana

2014-09-01

Study of dietary supplementation with ENN A mycotoxin during 28 days of exposure time on Wistar rats to determinate its levels in serum, urine and feces and, to evaluate the immunologic effect in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) is presented. The first method for ENN A extraction, determination and detection by LC-MS/MS in serum, urine and feces samples is reported. ENN A food dose administrated was detected in serum samples and influenced lymphocyte phenotyping. Levels in serum were founded from the second week of the experiment; reaching values of 4.76 μg/ml on the fourth week, which corresponds to 3.24 μg/ml in blood. PBL as T helper (CD4(+)) were presented in greater percentages compared to control (p ≤ 0.001), while T cytotoxic (CD8(+)) decreased significantly compared to control (p ≤ 0.001). ENN A treatment significantly increased CD4(+)/CD3(+) and CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratios but significantly decreased CD8(+)/CD3(+) ratio. CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio was 2.94:1, indicating that PBL surface antigen expression and immune status in Wistar rats treated were impaired by the ENN A mycotoxin. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Shelf life extension of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) using chitosan and ε-polylysine during cold storage.

PubMed

Na, Soyoung; Kim, Jin-Hee; Jang, Hye-Jin; Park, Hee Jung; Oh, Se-Wook

2018-05-01

In this study, we examined the effects of an ε-polylysine (PL) and chitosan (CH) coating on the quality of shrimp under refrigeration. Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) were coated with PL, CH, or CH + PL and stored at 4 °C for 15 days. The quality of shrimp was measured by observing changes in microbiota, pH, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), and sensory characteristics. Among the coating films, the CH + PL coating most effectively inhibited the growth of mesophilic and psychrotrophic bacteria, Pseudomonas spp., and H 2 S-producing bacteria. This coating increased the shelf life of shrimp by decreasing the amount of mesophilic and psychrotrophic bacteria, with inhibition greater than three log cycles on the ninth day of storage. In addition, the CH and CH + PL coatings effectively suppressed the formation of TVB-N compared with that in the control by 43% and 30%, respectively. The pH of all treated samples increased slowly compared with that of the control, but no significant difference was observed. Sensory quality was similar to microbial and physicochemical properties, and the acceptability of all treated samples gradually decreased. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Research findings can change attitudes about corporal punishment.

PubMed

Holden, George W; Brown, Alan S; Baldwin, Austin S; Croft Caderao, Kathryn

2014-05-01

Positive attitudes toward the use of corporal punishment (CP) predict subsequent spanking behavior. Given that CP has frequently been associated with behavior problems in children and child maltreatment, this prevention work was designed to test whether adults' attitudes could be changed by informing participants about the research findings on problematic behaviors associated with CP. Two random assignment studies are reported. In Study 1, we tested whether an active reading condition would result in more attitude change than a passive condition. With a sample of 118 non-parent adults, we found that after reading very brief research summaries on the problems associated with CP, there was a significant decrease in favorable attitudes toward CP. Contrary to expectations, the magnitude of the change was comparable for active and passive processing conditions. In Study 2, we extended our approach to a sample of 520 parents and included a control group. A significant decrease in positive attitudes toward spanking was observed in the intervention group, but no change for the control group. Parents who were unaware of the research showed more change after reading the summaries. Thus, these studies demonstrate that a brief and cost-effective approach to raise awareness of research findings can reduce positive attitudes toward CP. Implications for prevention and intervention are discussed. Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Cortical Changes Across the Autism Lifespan.

PubMed

Osipowicz, Karol; Bosenbark, Danielle D; Patrick, Kristina E

2015-08-01

Although it is widely accepted that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) involves neuroanatomical abnormalities and atypical neurodevelopmental patterns, there is little consensus regarding the precise pattern of neuroanatomical differences or how these differences relate to autism symptomology. Furthermore, there is limited research related to neuroanatomical correlates of autism symptomology in individuals with ASD and the studies that do exist primarily include small samples. This study was the first to investigate gray matter (GM) changes throughout the ASD lifespan, using voxel-based morphometry to determine whether significant differences exist in the GM volumes of a large sample of individuals with ASD compared to age- and IQ-matched typical controls. We examined GM volume across the lifespan in 531 individuals diagnosed with ASD and 571 neurotypical controls, aged 7-64. We compared groups and correlated GM with age and autism severity in the ASD group. Findings suggest bilateral decreased GM volume for individuals with ASD in regions extending from the thalamus to the cerebellum, anterior medial temporal lobes, and orbitofrontal regions. Higher autism severity was associated with decreased GM volumes in prefrontal cortex, inferior parietal and temporal regions, and temporal poles. Similar relationships were found between GM volume and age. ASD diagnosis and severity were not associated with increased GM volumes in any region. © 2015 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Realizing controllable graphene nucleation by regulating the competition of hydrogen and oxygen during chemical vapor deposition heating.

PubMed

Zhang, Haoran; Zhang, Yaqian; Zhang, Yanhui; Chen, Zhiying; Sui, Yanping; Ge, Xiaoming; Deng, Rongxuan; Yu, Guanghui; Jin, Zhi; Liu, Xinyu

2016-08-24

Oxygen can passivate Cu surface active sites when graphene nucleates. Thus, the nucleation density is decreased. The CuO/Cu substrate was chosen for graphene domain synthesis in our study. The results indicate that the CuO/Cu substrate is beneficial for large-scale, single-crystal graphene domain synthesis. Graphene grown on the CuO/Cu substrate exhibits fewer nucleation sites than on Cu foils, suggesting that graphene follows an oxygen-dominating growth. Hydrogen treatment via a heating process could weaken the surface oxygen's role in limiting graphene nucleation under the competition of hydrogen and oxygen and could transfer the synthesis of graphene into a hydrogen-dominating growth. However, the competition only exists during the chemical vapor deposition heating process. For non-hydrogen heated samples, oxygen-dominating growth is experienced even though the samples are annealed in hydrogen for a long time after the heating process. With the temperature increases, the role of hydrogen gradually decreases. The balance of hydrogen and oxygen is adjusted by introducing hydrogen gas at a different heating temperatures. The oxygen concentration on the substrate surface is believed to determine the reactions mechanisms based on the secondary ion mass spectrometry test results. This study provides a new method for the controllable synthesis of graphene nucleation during a heating process.

[Effects of parecoxib sodium preemptive analgesia on perioperative cytokine responses and stress responses in patients undergoing ophthalmology surgery].

PubMed

Xu, Li-li; Shen, Jian-jun; Zhou, Hai-yan

2010-07-20

To investigate the effects of parecoxib sodium preemptive analgesia on perioperative cytokine responses and stress responses and postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing ophthalmology surgery. One hundred ASAI-II patients undergoing ophthalmology surgery were randomly divided into 2 groups of fifty: the parecoxib group received parecoxib 40 mg by muscle injection, the control group received an equal volume of 0.9% normal saline two ml. Venous blood samples were obtained at 10 minutes before parecoxib or 0.9% normal saline was injected (T1), 30 minutes (T2) and 60 minutes (T3) after surgery was initiated, the moment when surgery was finished (T4), 6 hours (T5), 12 hours (T6) and 24 hours (T7) after surgery was finished for determination of the plasma levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-1RA, TNF and IL-1β. At the same time, the plasma levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone at T1-T6 were measured. VAS scores with patients were recorded at 1, 2, 6, 12, 24 h after surgery. The change of the plasma levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-1RA, TNF, IL-1β in the two groups:in the parecoxib group the plasma levels of TNF and IL-1β did not decreased significantly as compared with the control group (P > 0.05). The plasma levels of IL-6, IL-8 at T4-T6 decreased significantly as compared with the control group (P < 0.01). The plasma levels of IL-1RA at T3-T6 decreased significantly as compared with the control group (P < 0.01). The change of the plasma levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone in the two groups:in the parecoxib group the plasma levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine at T2, T3 decreased significantly as compared with the control group (P < 0.01). In the parecoxib group the plasma levels of cortisol at T2-T4 decreased significantly as compared with the control group (P < 0.01). In the parecoxib group the plasma levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone at T2-T5 decreased significantly as compared with the control group (P < 0.01). Postoperation VAS scores:VAS scores of the parecoxib group were less than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Preoperatively-administered parecoxib during ophthalmology surgery can produce better analgesia effect, reduce the production of cytokines, decrease central nervous system sensitization so as to improve the quality of postoperative pain relief. At the same time, it can reduce perioperative stress hormone release so as to have a positive effect on post operative recovery.

Nonantibiotic prophylaxis for recurrent urinary tract infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

PubMed

Beerepoot, M A J; Geerlings, S E; van Haarst, E P; van Charante, N Mensing; ter Riet, G

2013-12-01

Increasing antimicrobial resistance has stimulated interest in nonantibiotic prophylaxis of recurrent urinary tract infections. We assessed the effectiveness, tolerability and safety of nonantibiotic prophylaxis in adults with recurrent urinary tract infections. MEDLINE®, EMBASE™, the Cochrane Library and reference lists of relevant reviews were searched to April 2013 for relevant English language citations. Two reviewers selected randomized controlled trials that met the predefined criteria for population, interventions and outcomes. The difference in the proportions of patients with at least 1 urinary tract infection was calculated for individual studies, and pooled risk ratios were calculated using random and fixed effects models. Adverse event rates were also extracted. The Jadad score was used to assess risk of bias (0 to 2-high risk and 3 to 5-low risk). We identified 5,413 records and included 17 studies with data for 2,165 patients. The oral immunostimulant OM-89 decreased the rate of urinary tract infection recurrence (4 trials, sample size 891, median Jadad score 3, RR 0.61, 95% CI 0.48-0.78) and had a good safety profile. The vaginal vaccine Urovac® slightly reduced urinary tract infection recurrence (3 trials, sample size 220, Jadad score 3, RR 0.81, 95% CI 0.68-0.96) and primary immunization followed by booster immunization increased the time to reinfection. Vaginal estrogens showed a trend toward preventing urinary tract infection recurrence (2 trials, sample size 201, Jadad score 2.5, RR 0.42, 95% CI 0.16-1.10) but vaginal irritation occurred in 6% to 20% of women. Cranberries decreased urinary tract infection recurrence (2 trials, sample size 250, Jadad score 4, RR 0.53, 95% CI 0.33-0.83) as did acupuncture (2 open label trials, sample size 165, Jadad score 2, RR 0.48, 95% CI 0.29-0.79). Oral estrogens and lactobacilli prophylaxis did not decrease the rate of urinary tract infection recurrence. The evidence of the effectiveness of the oral immunostimulant OM-89 is promising. Although sometimes statistically significant, pooled findings for the other interventions should be considered tentative until corroborated by more research. Large head-to-head trials should be performed to optimally inform clinical decision making. Copyright © 2013 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Olive Oil Polyphenols Decrease LDL Concentrations and LDL Atherogenicity in Men in a Randomized Controlled Trial.

PubMed

Hernáez, Álvaro; Remaley, Alan T; Farràs, Marta; Fernández-Castillejo, Sara; Subirana, Isaac; Schröder, Helmut; Fernández-Mampel, Mireia; Muñoz-Aguayo, Daniel; Sampson, Maureen; Solà, Rosa; Farré, Magí; de la Torre, Rafael; López-Sabater, María-Carmen; Nyyssönen, Kristiina; Zunft, Hans-Joachim F; Covas, María-Isabel; Fitó, Montserrat

2015-08-01

Olive oil polyphenols have shown protective effects on cardiovascular risk factors. Their consumption decreased oxidative stress biomarkers and improved some features of the lipid profile. However, their effects on LDL concentrations in plasma and LDL atherogenicity have not yet been elucidated. Our objective was to assess whether the consumption of olive oil polyphenols could decrease LDL concentrations [measured as apolipoprotein B-100 (apo B-100) concentrations and the total number of LDL particles] and atherogenicity (the number of small LDL particles and LDL oxidizability) in humans. The study was a randomized, cross-over controlled trial in 25 healthy European men, aged 20-59 y, in the context of the EUROLIVE (Effect of Olive Oil Consumption on Oxidative Damage in European Populations) study. Volunteers ingested 25 mL/d raw low-polyphenol-content olive oil (LPCOO; 366 mg/kg) or high-polyphenol-content olive oil (HPCOO; 2.7 mg/kg) for 3 wk. Interventions were preceded by 2-wk washout periods. Effects of olive oil polyphenols on plasma LDL concentrations and atherogenicity were determined in the sample of 25 men. Effects on lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene expression were assessed in another sample of 18 men from the EUROLIVE study. Plasma apo B-100 concentrations and the number of total and small LDL particles decreased (mean ± SD: by 5.94% ± 16.6%, 11.9% ± 12.0%, and 15.3% ± 35.1%, respectively) from baseline after the HPCOO intervention. These changes differed significantly from those after the LPCOO intervention, which resulted in significant increases of 6.39% ± 16.6%, 4.73% ± 22.0%, and 13.6% ± 36.4% from baseline (P < 0.03). LDL oxidation lag time increased by 5.0% ± 10.3% from baseline after the HPCOO intervention, which was significantly different only relative to preintervention values (P = 0.038). LPL gene expression tended to increase by 26% from baseline after the HPCOO intervention (P = 0.08) and did not change after the LPCOO intervention. The consumption of olive oil polyphenols decreased plasma LDL concentrations and LDL atherogenicity in healthy young men. This trial was registered at www.controlled-trials.com as ISRCTN09220811. © 2015 American Society for Nutrition.

Optimal spatial sampling techniques for ground truth data in microwave remote sensing of soil moisture

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rao, R. G. S.; Ulaby, F. T.

1977-01-01

The paper examines optimal sampling techniques for obtaining accurate spatial averages of soil moisture, at various depths and for cell sizes in the range 2.5-40 acres, with a minimum number of samples. Both simple random sampling and stratified sampling procedures are used to reach a set of recommended sample sizes for each depth and for each cell size. Major conclusions from statistical sampling test results are that (1) the number of samples required decreases with increasing depth; (2) when the total number of samples cannot be prespecified or the moisture in only one single layer is of interest, then a simple random sample procedure should be used which is based on the observed mean and SD for data from a single field; (3) when the total number of samples can be prespecified and the objective is to measure the soil moisture profile with depth, then stratified random sampling based on optimal allocation should be used; and (4) decreasing the sensor resolution cell size leads to fairly large decreases in samples sizes with stratified sampling procedures, whereas only a moderate decrease is obtained in simple random sampling procedures.

Thermal analysis of the vortex tube based thermocycler for fast DNA amplification: Experimental and two-dimensional numerical results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raghavan, V.; Whitney, Scott E.; Ebmeier, Ryan J.; Padhye, Nisha V.; Nelson, Michael; Viljoen, Hendrik J.; Gogos, George

2006-09-01

In this article, experimental and numerical analyses to investigate the thermal control of an innovative vortex tube based polymerase chain reaction (VT-PCR) thermocycler are described. VT-PCR is capable of rapid DNA amplification and real-time optical detection. The device rapidly cycles six 20μl 96bp λ-DNA samples between the PCR stages (denaturation, annealing, and elongation) for 30cycles in approximately 6min. Two-dimensional numerical simulations have been carried out using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software FLUENT v.6.2.16. Experiments and CFD simulations have been carried out to measure/predict the temperature variation between the samples and within each sample. Heat transfer rate (primarily dictated by the temperature differences between the samples and the external air heating or cooling them) governs the temperature distribution between and within the samples. Temperature variation between and within the samples during the denaturation stage has been quite uniform (maximum variation around ±0.5 and 1.6°C, respectively). During cooling, by adjusting the cold release valves in the VT-PCR during some stage of cooling, the heat transfer rate has been controlled. Improved thermal control, which increases the efficiency of the PCR process, has been obtained both experimentally and numerically by slightly decreasing the rate of cooling. Thus, almost uniform temperature distribution between and within the samples (within 1°C) has been attained for the annealing stage as well. It is shown that the VT-PCR is a fully functional PCR machine capable of amplifying specific DNA target sequences in less time than conventional PCR devices.

Environmental assessment of a wood-waste-fired industrial watertube boiler. Volume 1. Technical results. Final report, March 1981-March 1984

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Castaldini, C.; Waterland, L.R.

1987-03-01

The two-volume report gives results from field tests of a wood-waste-fired industrial watertube boiler. Two series of tests were performed: one firing dry (11% moisture) wood waste, and the other firing green (34% moisture) wood waste. Emission measurements included: continuous monitoring of flue-gas emissions; source-assessment sampling system (SASS) sampling of the flue gas with subsequent laboratory analysis of samples to give total flue-gas organics in two boiling-point ranges, compound category information within these ranges, specific quantitation of the semi-volatile organic priority pollutants, and flue-gas concentrations of 73 trace elements; Method 5 sampling for particulate; controlled condensation system sampling for SO/submore » 2/ and SO/sub 3/; and grab sampling of boiler mechanical collector hopper ash for inorganic composition determinations. Total organic emissions decreased from 60-135 mg/dscm firing dry wood to 2-65 mg/dscm firing green wood, in parallel with corresponding boiler CO emissions.« less

Environmental assessment of a wood-waste-fired industrial watertube boiler. Volume 2. Data supplement. Final report, March 1981-March 1984

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Castaldini, C.; Waterland, L.R.

1987-03-01

The two-volume report gives results from field tests of a wood-waste-fired industrial watertube boiler. Two series of tests were performed: one firing dry (11% moisture) wood waste, and the other firing green (34% moisture) wood waste. Emission measurements included: continuous monitoring of flue-gas emissions; source-assessment sampling system (SASS) sampling of the flue-gas with subsequent laboratory analysis of samples to give total flue-gas organics in two boiling-point ranges, compound category information within these ranges, specific quantitation of the semi-volatile organic priority pollutants, and flue gas concentrations of 73 trace elements; Method 5 sampling for particulate; controlled condensation system sampling for SO/submore » 2/ and SO/sub 3/; and grab sampling of boiler mechanical collector hopper ash for inorganic and organic composition determinations. Total organic emissions decreased from 60-135 mg/dscm firing dry wood to 2-65 mg/dscm firing green wood, in parallel with corresponding boiler CO emissions.« less

A Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Group Intervention for Hypersexual Disorder: A Feasibility Study.

PubMed

Hallberg, Jonas; Kaldo, Viktor; Arver, Stefan; Dhejne, Cecilia; Öberg, Katarina Görts

2017-07-01

The proposed criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition for hypersexual disorder (HD) included symptoms reported by patients seeking help for excessive and out-of-control non-paraphilic sexual behavior, including sexual behaviors in response to dysphoric mood states, impulsivity, and risk taking. Although no prior studies of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for the treatment of HD have been performed, CBT has been found effective for dysphoric mood states and impulsivity. To investigate the feasibility of a CBT manual developed for HD explored through symptom decrease, treatment attendance, and clients' treatment satisfaction. Ten men with a diagnosis of HD took part in the CBT group program. Measurements were taken before, during, and at the end of treatment and 3 and 6 months after treatment. The primary outcome was the Hypersexual Disorder: Current Assessment Scale (HD:CAS) score that measured the severity of problematic hypersexual symptoms and secondary outcomes were the Hypersexual Disorder Screening Inventory (HDSI) score, the proportion of attended sessions, and the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8) score. Main results were significant decreases of HD symptoms from before to after treatment on HD:CAS and HDSI scores and a decrease in the number of problematic sexual behaviors during the course of therapy. A high attendance rate of 93% and a high treatment satisfaction score on CSQ-8 also were found. The CBT program seemed to ameliorate the symptoms of HD and therefore might be a feasible treatment option. This study provides data from a CBT program for the treatment of the specific proposed criteria of HD. Because of the small sample and lack of a control group, the results can be considered only preliminary. Although participants reported decreased HD symptoms after attending the CBT program, future studies should evaluate the treatment program with a larger sample and a randomized controlled procedure to ensure treatment effectiveness. Hallberg J, Kaldo V, Arver S, et al. A Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Group Intervention for Hypersexual Disorder: A Feasibility Study. J Sex Med 2017;14:950-958. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Comparison of the effect of dietary copper nanoparticles and one copper (II) salt on the metabolic and immune status in a rat model.

PubMed

Cholewińska, Ewelina; Juśkiewicz, Jerzy; Ognik, Katarzyna

2018-07-01

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of a diet containing different levels of Cu in two different chemical forms (carbonate and nanoparticles) on metabolic, immune and antioxidant status in a rat model. Five experimental treatments (8 rats in each) were used to test different dosages of Cu added to the diet (standard -6.5 mg/kg, half the standard dosage -3.25 mg/kg, and no added Cu as a negative control) and two sources of added copper (standard -CuCO 3 and copper nanoparticles -CuNPs). Blood and urine samples were collected from all the animals after four weeks of treatment. Metabolic and immune parameters were determined in blood and urine samples. The study has shown that a dietary Cu deficiency (negative control) decreases rat's plasma levels of Cu, Fe, CREAT, BIL and IL-6, whereas reducing the level of Cu from the recommended 6.5 mg/kg to 3.25 mg/kg decreases only the plasma concentration of TG, IgE and IL-6. Replacing CuCO 3 with CuNPs in rat diets affects their metabolism, as indicated by decreased Ca, CREAT, BIL, ALB and IL-6 plasma levels. To sum up, CuNP added to a diet of rats have a more beneficial effect on metabolic indices (indicative of kidney and liver function) and inhibit inflammatory processes more effectively than CuCO 3 . Copyright © 2018 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

The possible societal impact of the decrease in U.S. blood lead levels on adult IQ.

PubMed

Kaufman, Alan S; Zhou, Xiaobin; Reynolds, Matthew R; Kaufman, Nadeen L; Green, Garo P; Weiss, Lawrence G

2014-07-01

The dramatic decrease in U.S. blood lead levels (BLLs) since the 1970s has been documented--however, the anticipated societal impact on intelligence quotient (IQ) has not. The objectives of this study were to determine whether mean IQs of American adults, adjusted for demographics, have increased in concert with society's decreasing BLL. Mean IQs of eight normal adult cohorts (N=800), tested individually in 2007 by trained clinicians, were compared using ANCOVA and correlation analysis. Cohorts ranged in mean societal BLLs from 4 1/2 μg/dL (born 1985-1987) to 19 μg/dL (born 1963-1972). IQs were adjusted for confounders-education, gender, ethnicity, region, urban status. To control for age, we analyzed IQ data for a second adult sample (N=800), tested in 1995-all born when BLLs were high (1951-1975, BLL ≥ 15 μg/dL). When controlling for education, gender, ethnicity, and region, the regression of IQs on BLLs was significant (r=-0.84, p<0.01); the modeled change in BLLs from 20 to 4 μg/dL suggests predicted increases of 3.8 IQ points (95% CI, 1.4-6.2). Also controlling for urban status produced significance (r=-0.88, p<0.01) with predicted increases of 5.2 points (95% CI, 2.4-8.0). Control analyses ruled out aging as a confounder. The dramatic societal decreases in BLLs in the U.S. since the 1970s were associated with a 4-5-point increase in the mean IQs of Americans. This effect is consistent with researchers' predictions; however, other variables (e.g., medical advances) may have contributed to the IQ gains. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effect of Renal Impairment on the Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Verinurad, a Selective Uric Acid Reabsorption Inhibitor.

PubMed

Smith, William B; Hall, Jesse; Berg, Jolene K; Kazimir, Michal; Yamamoto, Amy; Walker, Susan; Lee, Caroline A; Shen, Zancong; Wilson, David M; Zhou, Dongmei; Gillen, Michael; Marbury, Thomas C

2018-06-11

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Verinurad (RDEA3170) is a high-affinity, selective URAT1 transporter inhibitor in development for treating gout and asymptomatic hyperuricemia. This Phase I, single-dose study investigated the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of verinurad in adults with renal impairment and controls with normal renal function. Males aged 18-85 years were enrolled with serum urate (sUA) 4.5-10 mg/dl and creatinine clearance 60- < 90, 30- < 60, 15- < 30, or ≥ 90 ml/min (mild, moderate, severe renal impairment and controls, respectively; n = 7/8). Verinurad 15 mg was administered orally under fasted conditions. Serial plasma/serum and urine samplings were 30 min pre-dose to 72 h post-dose. Compared to controls, verinurad maximum observed plasma concentration increased by 53, 73, and 128% and area under the concentration-time curve increased by 24, 148, and 130%, in subjects with mild, moderate, and severe renal impairment, respectively; renal clearance decreased by 5, 42, and 79%. Exposures of major verinurad metabolites also increased with increasing renal impairment. Verinurad decreased sUA in all groups, with greater maximal changes in control and mild renal impairment than moderate and severe impairment groups (- 38.3, - 36.9, - 20.5, - 12.6%, respectively). There were no adverse event-related withdrawals or clinically meaningful changes in laboratory values. Exposures of verinurad and metabolites increased with decreasing renal function. Consistent with the renal-dependent mechanism of action of verinurad, increasing severity of renal impairment was associated with decreased sUA lowering. Verinurad safety assessments were similar regardless of renal impairment. Continued investigation of verinurad is warranted in patients with gout and renal impairment. CLINICALTRIALS. NCT02219516.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls in suspended-sediment samples from outfalls to Meandering Road Creek at Air Force Plant 4, Fort Worth, Texas, 2003-08

USGS Publications Warehouse

Braun, Christopher L.; Wilson, Jennifer T.

2010-01-01

Meandering Road Creek is an intermittent stream and tributary to Lake Worth, a reservoir on the West Fork Trinity River on the western edge of Fort Worth, Texas. U.S. Air Force Plant 4 (AFP4) is on the eastern shore of Woods Inlet, an arm of Lake Worth. Meandering Road Creek gains inflow from several stormwater outfalls as it flows across AFP4. Several studies have characterized polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the water and sediments of Lake Worth and Meandering Road Creek; sources of PCBs are believed to originate primarily from AFP4. Two previous U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reports documented elevated PCB concentrations in surficial sediment samples from Woods Inlet relative to concentrations in surficial sediment samples from other parts of Lake Worth. The second of these two previous reports also identified some of the sources of PCBs to Lake Worth. These reports were followed by a third USGS report that documented the extent of PCB contamination in Meandering Road Creek and Woods Inlet and identified runoff from outfalls 4 and 5 at AFP4 as prominent sources of these PCBs. This report describes the results of a fourth study by the USGS, in cooperation with the Lockheed Martin Corporation, to investigate PCBs in suspended-sediment samples in storm runoff from outfalls 4 and 5 at AFP4 following the implementation of engineering controls designed to potentially alleviate PCB contamination in the drainage areas of these outfalls. Suspended-sediment samples collected from outfalls 4 and 5 during storms on March 2 and November 10, 2008, were analyzed for selected PCBs. Sums of concentrations of 18 reported PCB congeners (Sigma PCBc) in suspended-sediment samples collected before and after implementation of engineering controls are compared. At both outfalls, the Sigma PCBc before engineering controls was higher than the Sigma PCBc after engineering controls. The Sigma PCBc in suspended-sediment samples collected at AFP4 before and after implementation of engineering controls also is compared to the threshold effect concentration (TEC), the concentration below which adverse effects to benthic biota rarely occur. Sigma PCBc exceeded the TEC for 75 percent of the samples collected at outfall 4 and 67 percent of the samples collected at outfall 5 before the implementation of engineering controls. Sigma PCBc did not exceed the TEC in samples collected at either outfall 4 or outfall 5 after the implementation of engineering controls. The relative prominence of 10 selected PCB congeners was evaluated by graphical analysis of ratios of individual concentrations of the 10 PCB congeners to the sum of these PCB congeners. An overall decrease in concentrations of PCB congeners at outfalls 4 and 5 after implementation of engineering controls, as well as a shift in prominence from lighter, less chlorinated congeners to a heavier, more chlorinated congener might have resulted from the implementation of engineering controls. Because of the small number of samples collected and lack of runoff and precipitation data to evaluate comparability of sampling conditions before and after implementation of engineering controls, all conclusions are preliminary.

Strain localization and fabric development in polycrystalline anorthite + melt by water diffusion in an axial deformation experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fukuda, Jun-ichi; Muto, Jun; Nagahama, Hiroyuki

2018-01-01

We performed two axial deformation experiments on synthetic polycrystalline anorthite samples with a grain size of 3 μm and 5 vol% Si-Al-rich glass at 900 °C, a confining pressure of 1.0 GPa, and a strain rate of 10-4.8 s-1. One sample was deformed as-is (dry); in the other sample, two half-cut samples (two cores) with 0.15 wt% water at the boundary were put together in the apparatus. The mechanical data for both samples were essentially identical with a yield strength of 700 MPa and strain weakening of 500 MPa by 20% strain. The dry sample appears to have been deformed by distributed fracturing. Meanwhile, the water-added sample shows plastic strain localization in addition to fracturing and reaction products composed of zoisite grains and SiO2 materials along the boundary between the two sample cores. Infrared spectra of the water-added sample showed dominant water bands of zoisite. The maximum water content was 1500 wt ppm H2O at the two-core boundary, which is the same as the added amount. The water contents gradually decreased from the boundaries to the sample interior, and the gradient fitted well with the solution of the one-dimensional diffusion equation. The determined diffusion coefficient was 7.4 × 10-13 m2/s, which agrees with previous data for the grain boundary diffusion of water. The anorthite grains in the water-added sample showed no crystallographic preferred orientation. Textural observations and water diffusion indicate that water promotes the plastic deformation of polycrystalline anorthite by grain-size-sensitive creep as well as simultaneous reactions. We calculated the strain rate evolution controlled by water diffusion in feldspar aggregates surrounded by a water source. We assumed water diffusion in a dry rock mass with variable sizes. Diffused water weakens a rock mass with time under compressive stress. The calculated strain rate decreased from 10-10 to 10-15 s-1 with an increase in the rock mass size to which water is supplied from < 1 m to 1 km and an increase in the time of water diffusion from < 1 to 10,000 years. This indicates a decrease in the strain rate in a rock mass with increasing deformation via water diffusion.

Geochemical appraisal of fluoride-laden groundwater in Suri I and II blocks, Birbhum district, West Bengal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Shreya; Nag, S. K.

2017-09-01

The present study has been carried out covering two blocks—Suri I and II in Birbhum district, West Bengal, India. The evaluation focuses on occurrence, distribution and geochemistry in 26 water samples collected from borewells spread across the entire study area homogeneously. Quantitative chemical analysis of groundwater samples collected from the present study area has shown that samples from two locations—Gangta and Dhalla contain fluoride greater than the permissible limit prescribed by WHO during both post-monsoon and pre-monsoon sampling sessions. Significant factor controlling geochemistry of groundwater has been identified to be rock-water interaction processes during both sampling sessions based on the results of Gibb's diagrams. Geochemical modeling studies have revealed that fluorite (CaF2) is, indeed, present as a significant fluoride-bearing mineral in the groundwaters of this study area. Calcite or CaCO3 is one of the most common minerals with which fluorite remains associated, and saturation index calculations have revealed that the calcite-fluorite geochemistry is the dominant factor controlling fluoride concentration in this area during both post- and pre-monsoon. High fluoride waters have also been found to be of `bicarbonate' type showing increase of sodium in water with decrease of calcium.

The mineralogical phase transformation of invisible gold-concentrate by microwave heating, and enhancement of their gold leaching rate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bak, Geonyoung; Kim, Bongju; Choi, Nagchoul; Park*, Cheonyoung

2015-04-01

In this study, in order to obtain the maximum Au leaching rate, an invisible gold concentrate sample was microwave-treated and a thiourea leaching experiment was performed. It is found that gold exists as invisible as a result of observation with an optical microscope and an electron microscope. As the invisible gold concentrate sample was exposed to microwave longer, its temperature and weight loss were increased together and its S content was decreased. The conditions for the maximum Au leaching rate and the fast leaching effect were a particle size of -325×400 mesh, exposure to microwave for 70 minutes, 1.0 g of thiourea, 0.0504 g of sodium sulfite and 0.425 g of ferric sulfate. However, the condition under which Au was leached out to the maximum was applied to the control sample, but its Au leaching rate was just in a range of 78% to 88%. Such results suggest that the effect of sodium sulfite and ferric sulfate was more effective in the microwave-treated sample than in the control sample. Therefore, it was confirmed that the complete and very fast Au leaching can be achieved by means of the microwave pretreatment of invisible gold concentrate.

The Metabolic Effects of Consumption of Yellow Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) on Some Biochemical Parameters in Experimental Rats.

PubMed

Udeme, Nelson; Okafor, Polycarp; Eleazu, Chinedum

2015-01-01

The metabolism of yellow cassava (variety TMS 01/1368) was investigated in male albino rats fed a diet containing yellow cassava for 7 to 28 days. There were significant increases (P < 0.05) in total and free cyanide and thiocyanate in the sera and urine samples of the experimental rats compared with the control, significant increases (P < 0.05) in serum glucose, alanine aminotransaminase, aspartate aminotransaminase, and alkaline phosphatase levels of the experimental rats compared with the control, significant decreases (P < 0.05) in serum albumin of the experimental rats compared with the control, but no significant differences (P > 0.05) in the serum total proteins of the experimental rats compared with the control. The experimental rats treated for 7, 14, 21, or 28 days exhibited body weight decreases of 5.11%, 11.10%, 19.16%, and 24.18%, respectively, whereas the control group showed 9.17% gain in body weight. Total and free cyanide concentrations were detected in the liver, kidney, and heart of most of the rats in both the experimental and control groups, except for free cyanide in the control group that was not detected. Metabolism of the yellow cassava variety in experimental rats was capable of exposing the animals to cyanide, underscoring the need for its proper processing before consumption by humans. © The Author(s) 2015.

Controlled synthesis and luminescence properties of CaMoO4:Eu3+ microcrystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Ying; Ma, Siming; Wang, Yu; Xu, Mai; Lu, Chengxi; Xiao, Linjiu; Deng, Shuguang

2018-03-01

Pure tetragonal-phased Ca0.9MoO4:0.1Eu3+ (CaMoO4:Eu3+) microcrystals with varying particle sizes were prepared via a co-deposition in water/oil (w/o) phase method. The particle sizes of as-prepared samples were controlled by calcination temperature and calcination time, and the crystallinity of the samples enhances with increasing particle size. The luminescence properties of CaMoO4:Eu3+ microcrystals were studied with varying particle size. The results reveal that the intensity of emission spectra of the CaMoO4:Eu3+ samples increases with increasing particle size, and they have closely correlation with each other. It is the same with the luminescence lifetime. The luminescence lifetime of the CaMoO4:Eu3+ samples decreases from 0.637 ms to 0.447 ms with increasing particle size from 0.12 μm to 1.79 μm, respectively. This study not only provides information for size-dependent luminescence properties of CaMoO4:Eu3+ but also gives a reference for potential applications in high voltage electric porcelain material.

Protein electrophoresis in cranes with presumed insect bite.

PubMed

Hartup, Barry K; Schroeder, Carrie A

2006-06-01

Serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) has emerged as a potentially valuable diagnostic tool in avian medicine; yet, there is limited information regarding SPE in cranes. Since 2000, 20 cases of unilateral periocular or facial soft tissue swelling, blepharitis, feather loss, and ocular or nasal discharge attributed to insect bite hypersensitivity were observed in cranes from a captive breeding center. SPE may be useful for evaluating these lesions. The aim of this study was to characterize the inflammatory response in cranes with hypersensitivity reactions using SPE. Serum samples from 7 cranes diagnosed with hypersensitivity reactions were submitted to a diagnostic laboratory for agarose gel electrophoresis. Results were compared to those in control serum samples obtained from the same cranes during routine physical examination, when they were clinically healthy. Total protein and a- and g-globulin concentrations were significantly increased and albumin/globulin ratios were significantly decreased in serum samples from cranes with hypersensitivity lesions compared with control samples. Using SPE, we documented changes in protein fraction concentrations in cranes with clinical signs of hypersensitivity. The increase in alpha- and gamma-globulin concentrations suggested inflammation and antigenic stimulation, consistent with a Type I hypersensitivity reaction.

Characterization of EEG patterns in brain-injured subjects and controls after a Snoezelen(®) intervention.

PubMed

Gómez, Carlos; Poza, Jesús; Gutiérrez, María T; Prada, Esther; Mendoza, Nuria; Hornero, Roberto

2016-11-01

The aim of this study was to assess the changes induced in electroencephalographic (EEG) activity by a Snoezelen(®) intervention on individuals with brain-injury and control subjects. EEG activity was recorded preceding and following a Snoezelen(®) session in 18 people with cerebral palsy (CP), 18 subjects who have sustained traumatic brain-injury (TBI) and 18 controls. EEG data were analyzed by means of spectral and nonlinear measures: median frequency (MF), individual alpha frequency (IAF), sample entropy (SampEn) and Lempel-Ziv complexity (LZC). Our results showed decreased values for MF, IAF, SampEn and LZC as a consequence of the therapy. The main changes between pre-stimulation and post-stimulation conditions were found in occipital and parietal brain areas. Additionally, these changes are more widespread in controls than in brain-injured subjects, which can be due to cognitive deficits in TBI and CP groups. Our findings support the notion that Snoezelen(®) therapy affects central nervous system, inducing a slowing of oscillatory activity, as well as a decrease of EEG complexity and irregularity. These alterations seem to be related with higher levels of relaxation of the participants. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Experiential self-focus writing as a facilitator of processing an interpersonal hurt.

PubMed

Liao, Kelly Yu-Hsin; Wei, Meifen; Russell, Daniel W; Abraham, W Todd

2012-10-01

This study examined the effects of experiential self-focus writing on changes in psychological outcomes (i.e., unforgiveness and negative affect) after an interpersonal hurt and the buffering effects of experiential self-focus writing on the association between anger rumination and these psychological outcomes. A sample of 182 college students who had experienced interpersonal hurt were randomly assigned to either the experiential self-focus writing condition, in which participants wrote about their feelings and experiences related to the hurt, or to a control writing condition in which they wrote about a recent neutral event. Latent growth curve analyses indicated that changes in unforgiveness over time did not differ between the experiential self-focus writing and the control writing conditions. However, relative to the control writing condition, negative affect decreased faster during writing and increased more slowly at follow-ups in the experiential self-focus writing condition. The results supported the hypothesis that negative affect resulting from an interpersonal hurt would significantly decrease over time among participants in the experiential self-focus writing group compared with the control group. Implications of experiential self-focus writing for interpersonal hurt and directions for future studies are discussed. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Socioeconomic Status and Lung Cancer: Unraveling the Contribution of Genetic Admixture

PubMed Central

Selvin, Steve; Wrensch, Margaret R.; Sison, Jennette D.; Hansen, Helen M.; Quesenberry, Charles P.; Seldin, Michael F.; Barcellos, Lisa F.; Buffler, Patricia A.; Wiencke, John K.

2013-01-01

Objectives. We examined the relationship between genetic ancestry, socioeconomic status (SES), and lung cancer among African Americans and Latinos. Methods. We evaluated SES and genetic ancestry in a Northern California lung cancer case–control study (1998–2003) of African Americans and Latinos. Lung cancer case and control participants were frequency matched on age, gender, and race/ethnicity. We assessed case–control differences in individual admixture proportions using the 2-sample t test and analysis of covariance. Logistic regression models examined associations among genetic ancestry, socioeconomic characteristics, and lung cancer. Results. Decreased Amerindian ancestry was associated with higher education among Latino control participants and greater African ancestry was associated with decreased education among African lung cancer case participants. Education was associated with lung cancer among both Latinos and African Americans, independent of smoking, ancestry, age, and gender. Genetic ancestry was not associated with lung cancer among African Americans. Conclusions. Findings suggest that socioeconomic factors may have a greater impact than genetic ancestry on lung cancer among African Americans. The genetic heterogeneity and recent dynamic migration and acculturation of Latinos complicate recruitment; thus, epidemiological analyses and findings should be interpreted cautiously. PMID:23948011

Prevention of catheter-associated urinary tract infection: implementation strategies of international guidelines.

PubMed

Andrade, Vera Lúcia Fonseca; Fernandes, Filipa Alexandra Veludo

2016-01-01

to describe strategies used by health professionals on the implementation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for the prevention of urinary infection related to catheterism. systematic review on literature based on data from CINAHL(r), Nursing & Allied Health Collection, Cochrane Plus Collection, MedicLatina, MEDLINE(r), Academic Search Complete, ACS - American Chemical Society, Health Reference Center Academic, Nursing Reference Center, ScienceDirect Journals and Wiley Online Library. A sample of 13 articles was selected. studies have highlighted the decrease of urinary tract infection related to catheterism through reminder systems to decrease of people submitted to urinary catheterism, audits about nursing professionals practice and bundles expansion. the present review systemizes the knowledge of used strategies by health professionals on introduction to international recommendations, describing a rate decrease of such infection in clinical practice.

Biomonitoring of exposure to N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone in workers of the automobile industry.

PubMed

Meier, Swetlana; Schindler, Birgit K; Koslitz, Stephan; Koch, Holger M; Weiss, Tobias; Käfferlein, Heiko U; Brüning, Thomas

2013-07-01

N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) is an important organic solvent for varnishes in industry. NMP has been previously shown to be a developmental toxicant in rodents. This study reports current exposures to NMP in the spraying department of an automobile plant using biological monitoring. Two specific metabolites, 5-hydroxy-N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (5-HNMP) and 2-hydroxy-N-methyl-succinimide (2-HMSI), were analyzed in 69 urine samples of 14 workers exposed to NMP and 9 nonexposed controls. Three different working tasks ('loading' and 'cleaning' of the sprayer system and 'wiping/packing' of the sprayed materials) and three sampling times (preshift, postshift, and preshift of the following day) were studied in exposed workers. Median exposures of 5-HNMP and 2-HMSI in postshift urine of exposed workers were 0.91 and 0.52mg g(-1) creatinine, respectively, whereas median levels in controls were below the limit of detection. Decreased levels of 5-HNMP were observed in preshift urine samples on the following day (0.39mg g(-1) creatinine) in exposed workers, while the concentration of 2-HMSI did not change (0.49mg g(-1) creatinine). Highest exposures occurred during sprayer cleaning with a maximum level of 8.31mg g(-1) creatinine of 5-HNMP in postshift urine. In contrast to 'wipers/packers', no decrease in 5-HNMP could be observed in preshift urine samples on day 2 of the 'loaders' and 'cleaners'. Overall, exposure in terms of 5-HNMP postshift and 2-HMSI preshift of the following day were well below the current biological limit values of the European Union (70 and 20mg g(-1) creatinine). Our results provide initial data on NMP exposure in the automobile industry and suggest that the analysis of 5-HNMP in preshift samples also provides essential information, particularly in situations involving direct handling of liquid NMP-containing formulations.

12-month color stability of enamel, dentine, and enamel-dentine samples after bleaching.

PubMed

Wiegand, Annette; Drebenstedt, Steffi; Roos, Malgorzata; Magalhães, Ana Carolina; Attin, Thomas

2008-12-01

The study aimed to quantify the color regression of enamel (E), dentine (D), and combined enamel-dentine (ED) of differently bleached ED specimens over a period of 12 months in vitro. Two ED samples were obtained from the labial surfaces of bovine teeth and prepared to a standardized thickness with the enamel and dentine layer each 1 mm. The ED samples were distributed on four groups (each n = 80), in which the different bleaching products were applied on enamel (1, Whitestrips; 2, Illuminé 15%; 3, Opalescence Xtra Boost) or dentine surfaces (4, mixture of sodium perborate/distilled water). Eighty ED samples were not bleached (control). Color (L*a*b*) of ED was assessed at baseline, subsequently after bleaching and at 3, 6, and 12 months of storage after bleaching (each 20 samples/group). E and D samples were prepared by removing the dentine or enamel layer of ED samples to allow for separate color analysis. Bleaching resulted in a significant color change (Delta E) of ED specimens. Within the observation period, Delta L but not Delta b declined to baseline. L* values of E and D samples also declined and were not significantly different from control samples after 12 months, while b* values did not decrease to baseline. Generally, no differences between the bleaching agents could be observed. Color change of enamel, dentine, and combined ED of in vitro bleached tooth samples is not stable over time with regard to lightness. However, yellowness did not return to baseline within 1 year.

MAOA gene hypomethylation in panic disorder—reversibility of an epigenetic risk pattern by psychotherapy

PubMed Central

Ziegler, C; Richter, J; Mahr, M; Gajewska, A; Schiele, M A; Gehrmann, A; Schmidt, B; Lesch, K-P; Lang, T; Helbig-Lang, S; Pauli, P; Kircher, T; Reif, A; Rief, W; Vossbeck-Elsebusch, A N; Arolt, V; Wittchen, H-U; Hamm, A O; Deckert, J; Domschke, K

2016-01-01

Epigenetic signatures such as methylation of the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene have been found to be altered in panic disorder (PD). Hypothesizing temporal plasticity of epigenetic processes as a mechanism of successful fear extinction, the present psychotherapy-epigenetic study for we believe the first time investigated MAOA methylation changes during the course of exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in PD. MAOA methylation was compared between N=28 female Caucasian PD patients (discovery sample) and N=28 age- and sex-matched healthy controls via direct sequencing of sodium bisulfite-treated DNA extracted from blood cells. MAOA methylation was furthermore analyzed at baseline (T0) and after a 6-week CBT (T1) in the discovery sample parallelized by a waiting time in healthy controls, as well as in an independent sample of female PD patients (N=20). Patients exhibited lower MAOA methylation than healthy controls (P<0.001), and baseline PD severity correlated negatively with MAOA methylation (P=0.01). In the discovery sample, MAOA methylation increased up to the level of healthy controls along with CBT response (number of panic attacks; T0–T1: +3.37±2.17%), while non-responders further decreased in methylation (−2.00±1.28% P=0.001). In the replication sample, increases in MAOA methylation correlated with agoraphobic symptom reduction after CBT (P=0.02–0.03). The present results support previous evidence for MAOA hypomethylation as a PD risk marker and suggest reversibility of MAOA hypomethylation as a potential epigenetic correlate of response to CBT. The emerging notion of epigenetic signatures as a mechanism of action of psychotherapeutic interventions may promote epigenetic patterns as biomarkers of lasting extinction effects. PMID:27045843

MAOA gene hypomethylation in panic disorder-reversibility of an epigenetic risk pattern by psychotherapy.

PubMed

Ziegler, C; Richter, J; Mahr, M; Gajewska, A; Schiele, M A; Gehrmann, A; Schmidt, B; Lesch, K-P; Lang, T; Helbig-Lang, S; Pauli, P; Kircher, T; Reif, A; Rief, W; Vossbeck-Elsebusch, A N; Arolt, V; Wittchen, H-U; Hamm, A O; Deckert, J; Domschke, K

2016-04-05

Epigenetic signatures such as methylation of the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene have been found to be altered in panic disorder (PD). Hypothesizing temporal plasticity of epigenetic processes as a mechanism of successful fear extinction, the present psychotherapy-epigenetic study for we believe the first time investigated MAOA methylation changes during the course of exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in PD. MAOA methylation was compared between N=28 female Caucasian PD patients (discovery sample) and N=28 age- and sex-matched healthy controls via direct sequencing of sodium bisulfite-treated DNA extracted from blood cells. MAOA methylation was furthermore analyzed at baseline (T0) and after a 6-week CBT (T1) in the discovery sample parallelized by a waiting time in healthy controls, as well as in an independent sample of female PD patients (N=20). Patients exhibited lower MAOA methylation than healthy controls (P<0.001), and baseline PD severity correlated negatively with MAOA methylation (P=0.01). In the discovery sample, MAOA methylation increased up to the level of healthy controls along with CBT response (number of panic attacks; T0-T1: +3.37±2.17%), while non-responders further decreased in methylation (-2.00±1.28%; P=0.001). In the replication sample, increases in MAOA methylation correlated with agoraphobic symptom reduction after CBT (P=0.02-0.03). The present results support previous evidence for MAOA hypomethylation as a PD risk marker and suggest reversibility of MAOA hypomethylation as a potential epigenetic correlate of response to CBT. The emerging notion of epigenetic signatures as a mechanism of action of psychotherapeutic interventions may promote epigenetic patterns as biomarkers of lasting extinction effects.

[Effectiveness of an intervention to improve quality care in reducing cardiovascular risk in hypertense patients].

PubMed

Gómez Marcos, Manuel A; García Ortiz, Luis; González Elena, Luis Javier; Sánchez Rodríguez, Angel

2006-05-31

To evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention on health workers, based on quality improvement through reduction of cardiovascular risk in patients with hypertension. Quasi-experimental study. Primary care. Two urban health centres. A thousand hypertense patients selected by stratified random sampling. One centre (500) was assigned to implement a quality improvement intervention, while at the other centre (500) "usual care" procedures were followed (control group). The quality improvement intervention consisted of a combined program designed for the medical and nursing staff that comprised audit, feedback, training sessions, and implementation of clinical practice guidelines. Coronary risk using the Framingham scale and cardiovascular mortality risk using the SCORE project. Absolute coronary risk decreased from 16.94% (95% CI, 15.92-17.66) to 13.81% (95% CI, 13.09-14.52) (P<.001) in the intervention group; whilst there was no significant change in the control group, which dropped from 17.63% (95% CI, 16.68-18.53) to 16.82% (95% CI, 15.91-17.74). The intervention led to a 2.28% point decrease (95% CI, 1.35-3.21) (P<.001) in coronary risk. Cardiovascular mortality risk decreased from 2.48% (95% CI, 2.35-2.62) to 2.19% (95% CI, 2.07-2.31) (P<.001) in the intervention group, with no significant change in the control group, which changed from 2.45% (95% CI, 2.30-2.59) to 2.52% (95% CI, 2.38-2.66). The intervention led to a 0.36% point decrease (95% CI, 0.05-0.73) (P<.001) in cardiovascular mortality risk. The quality improvement intervention was effective in decreasing coronary risk and cardiovascular mortality risk in patients with hypertension.

Role of Oxytocin in deceleration of early atherosclerotic inflammatory processes in adult male rats

PubMed Central

Ahmed, Marwa A; ELosaily, Gehan M

2011-01-01

Objective: The study aimed to examine the effect of exogenous OT administration on the inflammation and atherosclerosis in adult male rats and its possible mechanisms. Thirty adult male rats equally divided into three groups. Control group fed regular diet; group II fed control diet supplemented with L-methionine for 10 weeks. Group III received L-methionine and oxytocin treatment for 10 weeks. RT-PCR analysis showed that OT administration increased oxytocin receptor mRNA (2 fold, P, 0.05). Blood samples were evaluated for total homocysteine, interlukin-6 (IL-6), monocyte chemoatrratant protein-1 (MCP-1) and C-reactive protein (CRP) by ELIZA, lipid profile, nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were determined. Specimens from aorta were processed for immunohistochemical staining for Aorta nuclear factor _B (NF-κB) p65 protein. Result showed that OT administration to group III decreased the plasma levels IL-6, MCP-1 and CRP levels which were elevated in group II. Moreover, there was decrease of the oxidative stress of group III in terms of increased plasma levels of NO and GSH and decreased plasma levels of MDA in blood. In addition, rats of group II showed histological abnormalities manifested by thickening and ulceration of the aortic wall. Marked increased expression of NF-κB in aorta of in group II was detected. However, OT administration restores the histological structure of the aorta and decreased the expression of NF-κB in aorta of group III similar to the control group. Conclusion: OT has anti inflammatory pathway in atherosclerosis as it decelerates atherosclerosis by decreasing the proinflammatory responses through many mechanisms, mainly the up regulation of its receptors. PMID:21977229

Increased galectin-3 levels are associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm progression and inhibition of galectin-3 decreases elastase-induced AAA development.

PubMed

Fernandez-García, Carlos-Ernesto; Tarin, Carlos; Roldan-Montero, Raquel; Martinez-Lopez, Diego; Torres-Fonseca, Monica; Lindhot, Jes S; Vega de Ceniga, Melina; Egido, Jesus; Lopez-Andres, Natalia; Blanco-Colio, Luis-Miguel; Martín-Ventura, Jose-Luis

2017-11-15

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) evolution is unpredictable and no specific treatment exists for AAA, except surgery to prevent aortic rupture. Galectin-3 has been previously associated with CVD, but its potential role in AAA has not been addressed. Galectin-3 levels were increased in the plasma of AAA patients ( n =225) compared with the control group ( n =100). In addition, galectin-3 concentrations were associated with the need for surgical repair, independently of potential confounding factors. Galectin-3 mRNA and protein expression were increased in human AAA samples compared with healthy aortas. Experimental AAA in mice was induced via aortic elastase perfusion. Mice were treated intravenously with the galectin-3 inhibitor modified citrus pectin (MCP, 10 mg/kg, every other day) or saline. Similar to humans, galectin-3 serum and aortic mRNA levels were also increased in elastase-induced AAA mice compared with control mice. Mice treated with MCP showed decreased aortic dilation, as well as elastin degradation, vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) loss, and macrophage content at day 14 postelastase perfusion compared with control mice. The underlying mechanism(s) of the protective effect of MCP was associated with a decrease in galectin-3 and cytokine (mainly CCL5) mRNA and protein expression. Interestingly, galectin-3 induced CCL5 expression by a mechanism involving STAT3 activation in VSMC. Accordingly, MCP treatment decreased STAT3 phosphorylation in elastase-induced AAA. In conclusion, increased galectin-3 levels are associated with AAA progression, while galectin-3 inhibition decreased experimental AAA development. Our data suggest the potential role of galectin-3 as a therapeutic target in AAA. © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Portland Press Limited on behalf of the Biochemical Society.

The influence of testing apparatus stiffness on the source properties of laboratory stick-slip

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kilgore, B. D.; McGarr, A.; Beeler, N. M.; Lockner, D. A.

2016-12-01

Stick-slip experiments were performed to determine the influence of the testing apparatus stiffness on source properties, to develop methods to relate stick-slip to natural earthquakes, and to examine the hypothesis of McGarr [2012] that the product of unloading stiffness, k, and slip duration, T, is both scale-independent and approximately constant for both laboratory and natural earthquakes. A double-direct shear load frame was used with Sierra White Granite samples at 2 MPa normal stress, and a remote loading rate of 0.2 µm/s. The stiffness of the test apparatus was varied by more than an order of magnitude by inserting disk springs into the shear loading column adjacent to the granite samples. Servo-controlling slip at a point between the forcing ram and the shear force load cell, produced repeatable slip events. Slip and slip duration decrease as k increases, as they do for natural earthquakes. In contrast to earthquakes, stress drop and slip rate decrease with increasing k, and the product kT for these experiments is not constant, but decreases with k. These data, collected over a range of k, do not conform to McGarr's [2012] hypothesis. However, analysis of stick-slip studies from other testing apparatuses is consistent with McGarr's hypothesis; kT is scale-independent, similar to that of earthquakes, equal to the ratio of static stress drop to average slip velocity, and similar to the ratio of shear modulus to wavespeed of rock. These properties result from conducting experiments over a range of sample sizes, using rock samples with the same elastic properties as the Earth, and using testing machines whose stiffnesses decrease, and characteristic periods increase with scale. A consequence of our experiments and analysis is that extrapolation of lab scale earthquake source properties to the Earth is more difficult than previously thought, requiring an accounting for the properties of the testing machines and additional research beyond that reported here.

Fenitrothion induced oxidative stress and morphological alterations of sperm and testes in male sprague-dawley rats

PubMed Central

Taib, Izatus Shima; Budin, Siti Balkis; Ghazali, Ahmad Rohi; Jayusman, Putri Ayu; Louis, Santhana Raj; Mohamed, Jamaludin

2013-01-01

OBJECTIVE: Fenitrothion residue is found primarily in soil, water and food products and can lead to a variety of toxic effects on the immune, hepatobiliary and hematological systems. However, the effects of fenitrothion on the male reproductive system remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of fenitrothion on the sperm and testes of male Sprague-Dawley rats. METHODS: A 20 mg/kg dose of fenitrothion was administered orally by gavages for 28 consecutive days. Blood sample was obtained by cardiac puncture and dissection of the testes and cauda epididymis was performed to obtain sperm. The effects of fenitrothion on the body and organ weight, biochemical and oxidative stress, sperm characteristics, histology and ultrastructural changes in the testes were evaluated. RESULTS: Fenitrothion significantly decreased the body weight gain and weight of the epididymis compared with the control group. Fenitrothion also decreased plasma cholinesterase activity compared with the control group. Fenitrothion altered the sperm characteristics, such as sperm concentration, sperm viability and normal sperm morphology, compared with the control group. Oxidative stress markers, such as malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl, total glutathione and glutathione S-transferase, were significantly increased and superoxide dismutase activity was significantly decreased in the fenitrothion-treated group compared with the control group. The histopathological and ultrastructural examination of the testes of the fenitrothion-treated group revealed alterations corresponding with the biochemical changes compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: A 20 mg/kg dose of fenitrothion caused deleterious effects on the sperm and testes of Sprague-Dawley rats. PMID:23420164

Effects of rice bran fiber on heat-induced gel prepared with pork salt-soluble meat proteins in model system.

PubMed

Choi, Yun-Sang; Choi, Ji-Hun; Han, Doo-Jeong; Kim, Hack-Youn; Lee, Mi-Ai; Kim, Hyun-Wook; Jeong, Jong-Youn; Kim, Cheon-Jei

2011-05-01

The technological effects of rice bran fiber on pork salt-soluble meat proteins in a model system were investigated. Rice bran fiber at levels of 0% (control), 0.1%, 0.5%, 1%, and 2% was added at the same time as salt-soluble meat protein to maintain similar moisture levels in all samples. Samples with increasing amounts of added rice bran fiber had higher pH, yellowness, sarcoplasmic and total protein solubilities. The moisture content, myofibrillar protein solubility and water holding capacity were the highest in the treatments containing with 1% rice bran fiber. However, the lightness and redness, textural properties decreased with increasing rice bran fiber levels. SDS gel electrophoresis did not reveal any changes in proteins regardless different rice bran fiber levels. The apparent viscosity indicated that improvements in water holding capacity and decreased texture due to added rice bran fiber. Copyright © 2010 The American Meat Science Association. All rights reserved.

Standardization of glycohemoglobin results and reference values in whole blood studied in 103 laboratories using 20 methods.

PubMed

Weykamp, C W; Penders, T J; Miedema, K; Muskiet, F A; van der Slik, W

1995-01-01

We investigated the effect of calibration with lyophilized calibrators on whole-blood glycohemoglobin (glyHb) results. One hundred three laboratories, using 20 different methods, determined glyHb in two lyophilized calibrators and two whole-blood samples. For whole-blood samples with low (5%) and high (9%) glyHb percentages, respectively, calibration decreased overall interlaboratory variation (CV) from 16% to 9% and from 11% to 6% and decreased intermethod variation from 14% to 6% and from 12% to 5%. Forty-seven laboratories, using 14 different methods, determined mean glyHb percentages in self-selected groups of 10 nondiabetic volunteers each. With calibration their overall mean (2SD) was 5.0% (0.5%), very close to the 5.0% (0.3%) derived from the reference method used in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial. In both experiments the Abbott IMx and Vision showed deviating results. We conclude that, irrespective of the analytical method used, calibration enables standardization of glyHb results, reference values, and interpretation criteria.

High-Impact Aerobic and Zumba Fitness on Increasing VO2MAX, Heart Rate Recovery and Skinfold Thickness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suminar, T. J.; Kusnanik, N. W.; Wiriawan, O.

2018-01-01

Purpose of this study is to determine the significant effect of high-impact aerobics exercise, and Zumba fitness on increasing VO2Max, decreasing of heart rate recovery, and decreasing of skinfold thickness. A sample of this study is 30 members aerobics of student activity unit. Type of this study was quantitative by using a quasi-experimental design method. The design of this study used Matching-Only Design. Data were Analyzed by using the t test (paired t-test). The samples divided into three groups consisted of experimental group I, experimental group II, and control group. They were given a treatment for 8 weeks or 24 meeting. For the data, retrieval is done by MFT test, heart rate recovery test, and skinfold thickness test. Furthermore, the result was analyzed by using SPSS 21 series. In conclusion, significant effect of high-impact aerobics and Zumba fitness on increasing VO2Max, heart rate recovery, skinfold thickness.

Dose-Rate Effects in Breaking DNA Strands by Short Pulses of Extreme Ultraviolet Radiation.

PubMed

Vyšín, Luděk; Burian, Tomáš; Ukraintsev, Egor; Davídková, Marie; Grisham, Michael E; Heinbuch, Scott; Rocca, Jorge J; Juha, Libor

2018-05-01

In this study, we examined dose-rate effects on strand break formation in plasmid DNA induced by pulsed extreme ultraviolet (XUV) radiation. Dose delivered to the target molecule was controlled by attenuating the incident photon flux using aluminum filters as well as by changing the DNA/buffer-salt ratio in the irradiated sample. Irradiated samples were examined using agarose gel electrophoresis. Yields of single- and double-strand breaks (SSBs and DSBs) were determined as a function of the incident photon fluence. In addition, electrophoresis also revealed DNA cross-linking. Damaged DNA was inspected by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM). Both SSB and DSB yields decreased with dose rate increase. Quantum yields of SSBs at the highest photon fluence were comparable to yields of DSBs found after synchrotron irradiation. The average SSB/DSB ratio decreased only slightly at elevated dose rates. In conclusion, complex and/or clustered damages other than cross-links do not appear to be induced under the radiation conditions applied in this study.

Influence of nano-material on the expansive and shrinkage soil behavior

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taha, Mohd Raihan; Taha, Omer Muhie Eldeen

2012-10-01

This paper presents an experimental study performed on four types of soils mixed with three types of nano-material of different percentages. The expansion and shrinkage tests were conducted to investigate the effect of three type of nano-materials (nano-clay, nano-alumina, and nano-copper) additive on repressing strains in compacted residual soil mixed with different ratios of bentonite (S1 = 0 % bentonite, S2 = 5 % bentonite, S3 = 10 % bentonite, and S4 = 20 % bentonite). The soil specimens were compacted under the condition of maximum dry unit weight and optimum water content ( w opt) using standard compaction test. The physical and mechanical results of the treated samples were determined. The untreated soil values were used as control points for comparison purposes. It was found that with the addition of optimum percentage of nano-material, both the swell strain and shrinkage strain reduced. The results show that nano-material decreases the development of desiccation cracks on the surface of compacted samples without decrease in the hydraulic conductivity.

Using an experimental manipulation to determine the effectiveness of a stock enhancement program

USGS Publications Warehouse

Stewart, David R.; Long, James M.

2015-01-01

We used an experimental manipulation to determine the impact of stocking 178 mm channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus in six impoundments. The study design consisted of equal numbers (two) of control, ceased-stock, and stocked treatments that were sampled one year before and two years after stocking. Relative abundance, growth, size structure, and average weight significantly changed over time based on samples collected with hoop nets. Catch rates decreased at both ceased-stock lakes and increased for one stocked lake, while growth rates changed for at least one ceased-stock and stocked lake. The average weight of channel catfish in the ceased-stock treatment increased by 6% and 25%, whereas weight decreased by 28% and 78% in both stocked lakes. The variability in observed responses between lakes in both ceased-stock and stocked treatments indicates that a one-size-fits-all stocking agenda is impractical, suggesting lake specific and density-dependent mechanisms affect channel catfish population dynamics.

Alteration of plasma membrane-bound redox systems of iron deficient pea roots by chitosan.

PubMed

Meisrimler, Claudia-Nicole; Planchon, Sebastien; Renaut, Jenny; Sergeant, Kjell; Lüthje, Sabine

2011-08-12

Iron is essential for all living organisms and plays a crucial role in pathogenicity. This study presents the first proteome analysis of plasma membranes isolated from pea roots. Protein profiles of four different samples (+Fe, +Fe/Chitosan, -Fe, and -Fe/Chitosan) were compared by native IEF-PAGE combined with in-gel activity stains and DIGE. Using DIGE, 89 proteins of interest were detected in plasma membrane fractions. Data revealed a differential abundance of several spots in all samples investigated. In comparison to the control and -FeCh the abundance of six protein spots increased whereas 56 spots decreased in +FeCh. Altered protein spots were analyzed by MALDI-TOF-TOF mass spectrometry. Besides stress-related proteins, transport proteins and redox enzymes were identified. Activity stains after native PAGE and spectrophotometric measurements demonstrated induction of a ferric-chelate reductase (-Fe) and a putative respiratory burst oxidase homolog (-FeCh). However, the activity of the ferric-chelate reductase decreased in -Fe plants after elicitor treatment. The activity of plasma membrane-bound class III peroxidases increased after elicitor treatment and decreased under iron-deficiency, whereas activity of quinone reductases decreased mostly after elicitor treatment. Possible functions of proteins identified and reasons for a weakened pathogen response of iron-deficient plants were discussed. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Olive plants (Olea europaea L.) as a bioindicator for pollution.

PubMed

Eliwa, Amal Mohamed; Kamel, Ehab Abdel-Razik

2013-06-15

In the present work, olive plant (Olea europaea L.) was used as a biological indicator for pollution in which, molecular and physiological parameters were studied. Olive plants were collected from polluted and non-polluted areas in Jeddah - Saudi Arabia, traffic area as an air polluted area, sewage treatment station as water polluted area, industrial area as solid waste polluted, costal area as marine polluted area and an area without a direct source of pollution far away from the city center, which was used as control. These changes conducted with nucleic acid content, minerals content, pigments and some growth parameters. Results showed significant reductions in DNA and RNA contents under all polluted sites. Mineral contents were varied widely depending on the different pollutants and locations of olive plant. Generally, micro-elements varied (increase/decrease) significantly within collected samples and the source of pollution. All growth parameters were decreased significantly within the studied samples of all pollutant areas except the relative water content was increased. The content of chlorophyll a has decreased highly significantly in all polluted leaves. While the content of chlorophyll b has increased significantly in all polluted leaves especially in air polluted leaves. The total content of carotenoid pigments has decreased highly significantly in all polluted leaves. It was concluded that olive plant can be used as a biological indicator to the environmental pollutants.

A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Wholistic Hybrid Derived From Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and Emotional Freedom Technique (WHEE) for Self-Treatment of Pain, Depression, and Anxiety in Chronic Pain Patients

PubMed Central

Benor, Daniel; Rossiter-Thornton, John; Toussaint, Loren

2016-01-01

In this pilot study, a convenience sample of 24 chronic pain patients (17 with chronic fatigue syndrome/fibromyalgia) were randomized into WHEE treatment and wait-list control groups for 6 weeks. Assessments of depression, anxiety, and pain were completed before, during, and at 1 and 3 months after treatment. Wait-listed patients then received an identical course of WHEE and assessments. WHEE decreased anxiety (P < .5) and depression (P < .05) compared with the control group. The wait-list-turned-WHEE assessments demonstrated decreased pain severity (P < .05) and depression (P < .04) but not pain interference or anxiety. WHEE appears a promising method for pain, anxiety, and depression in patients with chronic pain, compared to standard medical care alone. Though a small pilot study, the present results suggest that further research appears warranted. An incidental finding was that a majority of patients with chronic pain had suffered psychological trauma in childhood and/or adulthood. PMID:27432773

Investigation of the antioxidant status in multiple myeloma patients: effects of therapy.

PubMed

Mehdi, Wesen A; Zainulabdeen, Jwan A; Mehde, Atheer A

2013-01-01

Multiple myeloma is a malignant silent incurable plasma cell disorder. The present study aimed to assessed the activation of the oxidative stress pathway in affected patients. Advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs), malondialdehyde (MDA), adenosine deaminase (ADA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels, glutathione, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), α-tocopherol (vitamin E) in addition to related enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GSH-R) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were analyzed in sixty patients with multiple myeloma before and after one month treatment with induction therapy. The results of the study showed a significant elevation in AOPPs, MDA, ADA levels in patients with multiple myeloma before and after treatment in comparison to healthy control samples In contrast TAC glutathione, vitamin C and E, and the antioxidant enzymes levels were decreased significantly. On comparing samples of MM patients after treatment, there was significant increase of TAC glutathione, vitamin C and E, and the antioxidant enzymes in parallel with decreasing AOPPs, MDA and ADA levels in comparison with samples of patients before treatment. The results indicate oxidative stress and DNA damage activity increase in MM and are alleviated in response to therapy.

Novel application of the MSSCP method in biodiversity studies.

PubMed

Tomczyk-Żak, Karolina; Kaczanowski, Szymon; Górecka, Magdalena; Zielenkiewicz, Urszula

2012-02-01

Analysis of 16S rRNA sequence diversity is widely performed for characterizing the biodiversity of microbial samples. The number of determined sequences has a considerable impact on complete results. Although the cost of mass sequencing is decreasing, it is often still too high for individual projects. We applied the multi-temperature single-strand conformational polymorphism (MSSCP) method to decrease the number of analysed sequences. This was a novel application of this method. As a control, the same sample was analysed using random sequencing. In this paper, we adapted the MSSCP technique for screening of unique sequences of the 16S rRNA gene library and bacterial strains isolated from biofilms growing on the walls of an ancient gold mine in Poland and determined whether the results obtained by both methods differed and whether random sequencing could be replaced by MSSCP. Although it was biased towards the detection of rare sequences in the samples, the qualitative results of MSSCP were not different than those of random sequencing. Unambiguous discrimination of unique clones and strains creates an opportunity to effectively estimate the biodiversity of natural communities, especially in populations which are numerous but species poor. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Visible effects of rapamycin (sirolimus) on human skin explants in vitro.

PubMed

Peramo, Antonio; Marcelo, Cynthia L

2013-03-01

In this manuscript, we report observations of the effects of rapamycin in an organotypic culture of human skin explants. The tissues were cultured for 5 days at the air-liquid interface or in submersed conditions with media with and without rapamycin at 2 nM concentration. Histological analysis of tissue sections indicated that rapamycin-treated samples maintained a better epidermal structure in the upper layers of the tissue than untreated samples, mostly evident when skin was cultured in submersed conditions. A significant decrease in the number of positive proliferative cells using the Ki67 antigen was observed when specimens were treated with rapamycin, in both air-liquid and submersed conditions but apoptosis differences between treated and untreated specimens, as seen by cleaved caspase-3 positive cells, were only observed in submersed specimens. Finally, a decrease and variability in the location in the expression of the differentiation marker involucrin and in E-cadherin were also evident in submersed samples. These results suggest that the development of topical applications containing rapamycin, instead of systemic delivery, may be a useful tool in the treatment of skin diseases that require reduction of proliferation and modulation or control of keratinocyte differentiation.

Effect of Treatment Education Based on the Roy Adaptation Model on Adjustment of Hemodialysis Patients.

PubMed

Kacaroglu Vicdan, Ayse; Gulseven Karabacak, Bilgi

2016-01-01

The Roy Adaptation Model examines the individual in 4 fields: physiological mode, self-concept mode, role function mode, and interdependence mode. Hemodialysis treatment is associated with the Roy Adaptation Model as it involves fields that might be needed by the individual with chronic renal disease. This research was conducted as randomized controlled experiment with the aim of determining the effect of the education given in accordance with the Roy Adaptation Model on physiological, psychological, and social adaptation of individuals undergoing hemodialysis treatment. This was a random controlled experimental study. The study was conducted at a dialysis center in Konya-Aksehir in Turkey between July 1 and December 31, 2012. The sample was composed of 82 individuals-41 experimental and 41 control. In the second interview, there was a decrease in the systolic blood pressures and body weights of the experimental group, an increase in the scores of functional performance and self-respect, and a decrease in the scores of psychosocial adaptation. In the control group, on the other hand, there was a decrease in the scores of self-respect and an increase in the scores of psychosocial adaptation. The 2 groups were compared in terms of adaptation variables and a difference was determined on behalf of the experimental group. The training that was provided and evaluated for individuals receiving hemodialysis according to 4 modes of the Roy Adaptation Model increased physical, psychological, and social adaptation.

Aromatase Blockade Is Associated With Increased Mortality in Acute Illness in Male Mice.

PubMed

Connerney, Jeannette J; Spratt, Daniel I

2017-09-01

The increase in circulating estrogen levels with acute illness in humans is accompanied by increased aromatase expression in adipose tissue and increased peripheral aromatization of estrogens to androgens. Animal studies indicate that estrogen may be beneficial in acute illness. We hypothesized that blockade of aromatase in acute illness would decrease survival. Prospective sham controlled. Maine Medical Center Research Institute animal facility. Six- to 8-week-old male black 6 mice. Mice underwent cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) to induce acute illness and were administered letrozole to block aromatase or saline. Mice undergoing sham surgery with or without letrozole served as controls. Adipose and cardiovascular tissue was harvested for preliminary evaluation of aromatase expression. Survival was the main outcome measurement. Evidence for aromatase expression in tissue samples was assessed using western blot and/or immunohistochemistry. With aromatase blockade, survival in CLP mice was decreased ( P = 0.04). The presence of aromatase in adipose tissue was observed by western blot in CLP but not control mice. Similarly, the presence of aromatase was observed in cardiac tissue of CLP but not in control mice. The decreased survival during sepsis with aromatase blockade suggests that this response to acute illness may be important both physiologically and clinically. The preliminary observation of aromatase expression in adipose and cardiovascular tissue during acute illness in this mouse model indicates that this model has parallels to human physiology and may be useful for further studying the aromatase response to acute illness.

Nanoparticles of selenium as species with stronger physiological effects in sheep in comparison with sodium selenite.

PubMed

Sadeghian, Sirous; Kojouri, Gholam Ali; Mohebbi, Abdonnaser

2012-06-01

The present study was designed to compare the effects of nano red selenium and sodium selenite on the antioxidative activities of neutrophils and the hematological parameters in sheep. Fifteen sheep were randomly allocated into three groups. Groups 1 and 2 received selenium nanoparticles orally at 1 mg/kg and sodium selenite at 1 mg Se/kg for 10 consecutive days; group 3 served as the control. To assess the degrees of oxidative stress and of lipid peroxidation of the cellular membranes, the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were determined in serum samples that were collected at different supplementation intervals, i.e., after 0, 10, 20, and 30 days. In addition, hematological parameters in the serum samples were measured by routine procedures. It was found that TBARS levels in groups 1 and 2 were significantly higher on days 20 and 30 compared to the basal level on day 0. It was also found that on day 30, the TBARS activities in both treated groups were significantly higher than those of the controls (P < 0.05). These findings may explain the seemingly paradoxical effects of supplemental selenium on the indicators of oxidative stress, as the levels of TBARS were generally expected to decrease in the presence of selenium. There were no significant differences between the PCV and RBC values in the three groups. The white blood cell count (WBC) in group 1 showed a significant increase on days 20 and 30 in comparison with the control group. However, in group 2, there was a significant increase of the WBC value just on day 20 in comparison with the control group. Also, there were significant increases of the neutrophil counts and significant decreases of the lymphocyte counts on day 10 in group 1, in comparison with those in group 2 and controls, and on days 20 and 30 in groups 1 and 2 in comparison with those in the control group.

Alcohol and tobacco consumption affects bacterial richness in oral cavity mucosa biofilms.

PubMed

Thomas, Andrew Maltez; Gleber-Netto, Frederico Omar; Fernandes, Gustavo Ribeiro; Amorim, Maria; Barbosa, Luisa Fernanda; Francisco, Ana Lúcia Noronha; de Andrade, Arthur Guerra; Setubal, João Carlos; Kowalski, Luiz Paulo; Nunes, Diana Noronha; Dias-Neto, Emmanuel

2014-10-03

Today there are more than 2 billion alcohol users and about 1.3 billion tobacco users worldwide. The chronic and heavy use of these two substances is at the heart of numerous diseases and may wreak havoc on the human oral microbiome. This study delves into the changes that alcohol and tobacco may cause on biofilms of the human oral microbiome. To do so, we used swabs to sample the oral biofilm of 22 subjects; including 9 control-individuals with no or very low consumption of alcohol and no consumption of tobacco, 7 who were chronic and heavy users of both substances and 6 active smokers that reported no significant alcohol consumption. DNA was extracted from swabs and the V1 region of the 16S rRNA gene was PCR amplified and sequenced using the Ion Torrent PGM platform, generating 3.7 million high quality reads. DNA sequences were clustered and OTUs were assigned using the ARB SILVA database and Qiime. We found no differences in species diversity and evenness among the groups. However, we found a significant decrease in species richness in only smokers and in smokers/drinkers when compared to controls. We found that Neisseria abundance was significantly decreased in both groups when compared to controls. Smokers had significant increases in Prevotella and Capnocytophaga and reductions in Granulicatella, Staphylococcus, Peptostreptococcus and Gemella when compared to the two other groups. Controls showed higher abundance of Aggregibacter, whilst smokers/drinkers had lower abundances of Fusobacteria. Samples from only smokers clustered closer together than to controls and smokers/drinkers, and also had a significant reduction in inter-group dissimilarity distances, indicating a more homogenous group than controls. Our results indicate that the continued use of tobacco or alcohol plus tobacco significantly reduces bacterial richness, which apparently leads to a reduction in inter-group variability, turning the respective biofilms into a more homogenous microenvironment in terms of bacterial community composition, with possible consequences for human oral diseases.

The Mental Health Impact of Computer and Internet Training on a Multi-ethnic Sample of Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Results of a Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial

PubMed Central

Laganá, Luciana; García, James J.

2013-01-01

Introduction: We preliminarily explored the effects of computer and internet training in older age and attempted to address the diversity gap in the ethnogeriatric literature, given that, in our study’s sample, only one-third of the participants self-identified as White. The aim of this investigation was to compare two groups - the control and the experimental conditions - regarding theme 1) computer attitudes and related self-efficacy, and theme 2) self-esteem and depressive symptomatology. Methods: Sixty non-institutionalized residents of Los Angeles County (mean age ± SD: 69.12 ± 10.37 years; age range: 51-92) were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n=30) or the waitlist/control group (n=30). The experimental group was involved in 6 weeks of one-on-one computer and internet training for one 2-hour session per week. The same training was administered to the control participants after their post-test. Outcome measures included the four variables, organized into the two aforementioned themes. Results: There were no significant between-group differences in either post-test computer attitudes or self-esteem. However, findings revealed that the experimental group reported greater computer self-efficacy, compared to the waitlist/control group, at post-test/follow-up [F(1,56)=28.89, p=0.001, η2=0.01]. Additionally, at the end of the computer and internet training, there was a substantial and statistically significant decrease in depression scores among those in the experimental group when compared to the waitlist/control group [F(1,55)=9.06, p<0.004, η2=0.02]. Conclusions: There were significant improvements in favour of the experimental group in computer self-efficacy and, of noteworthy clinical relevance, in depression, as evidenced by a decreased percentage of significantly depressed experimental subjects from 36.7% at baseline to 16.7% at the end of our intervention. PMID:24151452

Kenyan female sex workers' use of female-controlled nonbarrier modern contraception: do they use condoms less consistently?

PubMed

Yam, Eileen A; Okal, Jerry; Musyoki, Helgar; Muraguri, Nicholas; Tun, Waimar; Sheehy, Meredith; Geibel, Scott

2016-03-01

To examine whether nonbarrier modern contraceptive use is associated with less consistent condom use among Kenyan female sex workers (FSWs). Researchers recruited 579 FSWs using respondent-driven sampling. We conducted multivariate logistic regression to examine the association between consistent condom use and female-controlled nonbarrier modern contraceptive use. A total of 98.8% reported using male condoms in the past month, and 64.6% reported using female-controlled nonbarrier modern contraception. In multivariate analysis, female-controlled nonbarrier modern contraceptive use was not associated with decreased condom use with clients or nonpaying partners. Consistency of condom use is not compromised when FSWs use available female-controlled nonbarrier modern contraception. FSWs should be encouraged to use condoms consistently, whether or not other methods are used simultaneously. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Potato Operation: automatic detection of potato diseases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lefebvre, Marc; Zimmerman, Thierry; Baur, Charles; Guegerli, Paul; Pun, Thierry

1995-01-01

The Potato Operation is a collaborative, multidisciplinary project in the domain of destructive testing of agricultural products. It aims at automatizing pulp sampling of potatoes in order to detect possible viral diseases. Such viruses can decrease fields productivity by a factor of up to ten. A machine, composed of three conveyor belts, a vision system, a robotic arm and controlled by a PC has been built. Potatoes are brought one by one from a bulk to the vision system, where they are seized by a rotating holding device. The sprouts, where the viral activity is maximum, are then detected by an active vision process operating on multiple views. The 3D coordinates of the sampling point are communicated to the robot arm holding a drill. Some flesh is then sampled by the drill, then deposited into an Elisa plate. After sampling, the robot arm washes the drill in order to prevent any contamination. The PC computer simultaneously controls these processes, the conveying of the potatoes, the vision algorithms and the sampling procedure. The master process, that is the vision procedure, makes use of three methods to achieve the sprouts detection. A profile analysis first locates the sprouts as protuberances. Two frontal analyses, respectively based on fluorescence and local variance, confirm the previous detection and provide the 3D coordinate of the sampling zone. The other two processes work by interruption of the master process.

An Integrated Control Strategy Takes Clonorchis sinensis Under Control in an Endemic Area in South China.

PubMed

Huang, Yalan; Huang, Dana; Geng, Yijie; Fang, Shisong; Yang, Fan; Wu, Chunli; Zhang, Hailong; Wang, Miao; Zhang, Ran; Wang, Xin; Wu, Shuang; Cao, Jianping; Zhang, Renli

2017-12-01

Clonorchis sinensis is an important foodborne zoonosis worldwide and prevalent in China for more than 2000 years. According to the experience of controlling Schistosoma japonica, China started to establish the integrated control strategy for C. sinensis in endemic areas. Lou village, the largest village in Shenzhen city in South China was taken as a pilot site. This longitudinal study assessed the infection status of C. sinensis among people and intermediate hosts from 2006 to 2014 in Lou village. After a continuous intervention with the integrated control strategy, the prevalence of C. sinensis decreased significantly to 2.01% in 2014. The infection intensity also reduced significantly with eggs per gram varying from 45.6 ± 3.4 in 2010 to 21.7 ± 1.6 in 2012. There is also a statistically significant decrease of the prevalence of C. sinensis metacercariae in fish hosts from 16.51% in 2008 before the intervention to 5.33% in 2014. All the old-styled toilets were replaced by sanitary ones with a harmless processing design in 2014. No viable parasite eggs were detected in stool samples from the reconstructed toilets. Health education played an important role in changing the eating habits among the local residents, with a significant decrease in the prevalence of eating raw fish from 91.99% in 2008 to 59.87% in 2014. The evaluation suggested that the integrated strategy we have performed in Lou village is effective in controlling the C. sinensis infection and maintaining the infection rate at a lower level, which can be promoted in other endemic areas.

Effect of SeptimebTM as a new natural extract on severe sepsis: A randomized clinical trial.

PubMed

Pourdast, Alieh; Sanaei, Maryam; Jafari, Sirous; Mohammadi, Mostafa; Khalili, Hossein; Shafiee, Gita; Ahadi, Zeinab; Rostami, Mahsa; Alizad, Saba; Heshmat, Ramin; Mohraz, Minoo

2017-01-01

Septimeb as a herbal medicine has regulatory effects on inflammation. This study set to evaluate the effects of Septimeb among patients with sepsis on inflammatory biomarkers and survival rate. In this randomized clinical trial, 51 patients with sepsis from the ICU and medical ward of Imam Khomeini Hospital were divided into two groups: Septimeb (n=25) and control group (n=26). In the control group, the patients received a standard treatment only for 7 days, while Septimeb group received Septimeb (6cc vial with 500cc serum glucose infusion 5% daily for one to two hours) plus standard treatment of sepsis for 7 days. Then, blood samples were analyzed. APACHE (Acute Physiologic and Chronic Health Evaluation), SOFA (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment), and GCS (Glasgow Coma Score) values were calculated daily. Treatment with Septimeb showed a significant decrease in SOFA value (1.54±0.83) compared to the control group (2.39±0.88) (P<0.001) and a significant increase in GCS value (14.46±0.88) compared to the control group (12.86±1.78) (P<0.001). Improvements of these values can confirm the potential of Septimeb in the reduction of severity of sepsis (P<0.05). There were significant decreases in lactate and blood sugar and WBC levels. In addition, inflammatory factors such as ESR (Septimeb group: 52.07±34.80, control group: 51.75±42.10, P=0.98) and CRP (Septimeb group: 48.86±23.21, control group: 49.93±36.22, P=0.92) decreased, but did not show a significant reduction. Septimeb has positive effects on reduction of the severity of sepsis which leads to reduction of patients' mortality rates.

Effect of SeptimebTM as a new natural extract on severe sepsis: A randomized clinical trial

PubMed Central

Pourdast, Alieh; Sanaei, Maryam; Jafari, Sirous; Mohammadi, Mostafa; Khalili, Hossein; Shafiee, Gita; Ahadi, Zeinab; Rostami, Mahsa; Alizad, Saba; Heshmat, Ramin; Mohraz, Minoo

2017-01-01

Background: Septimeb as a herbal medicine has regulatory effects on inflammation. This study set to evaluate the effects of Septimeb among patients with sepsis on inflammatory biomarkers and survival rate. Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 51 patients with sepsis from the ICU and medical ward of Imam Khomeini Hospital were divided into two groups: Septimeb (n=25) and control group (n=26). In the control group, the patients received a standard treatment only for 7 days, while Septimeb group received Septimeb (6cc vial with 500cc serum glucose infusion 5% daily for one to two hours) plus standard treatment of sepsis for 7 days. Then, blood samples were analyzed. APACHE (Acute Physiologic and Chronic Health Evaluation), SOFA (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment), and GCS (Glasgow Coma Score) values were calculated daily. Results: Treatment with Septimeb showed a significant decrease in SOFA value (1.54±0.83) compared to the control group (2.39±0.88) (P<0.001) and a significant increase in GCS value (14.46±0.88) compared to the control group (12.86±1.78) (P<0.001). Improvements of these values can confirm the potential of Septimeb in the reduction of severity of sepsis (P<0.05). There were significant decreases in lactate and blood sugar and WBC levels. In addition, inflammatory factors such as ESR (Septimeb group: 52.07±34.80, control group: 51.75±42.10, P=0.98) and CRP (Septimeb group: 48.86±23.21, control group: 49.93±36.22, P=0.92) decreased, but did not show a significant reduction. Conclusion: Septimeb has positive effects on reduction of the severity of sepsis which leads to reduction of patients’ mortality rates. PMID:28503281

Decrease of oxidative phosphorylation system function in severe septic patients.

PubMed

Lorente, Leonardo; Martín, María M; López-Gallardo, Ester; Blanquer, José; Solé-Violán, Jordi; Labarta, Lorenzo; Díaz, César; Jiménez, Alejandro; Montoya, Julio; Ruiz-Pesini, Eduardo

2015-10-01

The comparison of oxidative phosphorylation system capacities between septic patients and control subjects has been scarcely analyzed and only in studies with small sample size (fewer than 40 septic patients and 40 controls). Thus, the objective of this study was to compare platelet respiratory complex IV (CIV) activity between severe septic patients and healthy individuals in a larger series (including 198 severe septic patients and 96 healthy controls). A prospective, multicenter, observational study was carried out in 6 Spanish intensive care units. We obtained blood samples from 198 severe septic patients at day 1, 4, and 8 of the severe sepsis diagnosis and 96 sex- and age-matched healthy control individuals and determined platelet CIV-specific activity. The end point of the study was 30-day mortality. Control individuals showed higher platelet CIV-specific activity (P < .001) than surviving (n = 130) or nonsurviving (n = 68) severe septic patients at day 1, 4, and 8 of severe sepsis diagnosis. The major finding of our work, involving the largest series to date of severe septic patients with data on oxidative phosphorylation system capacity, was that surviving and nonsurviving septic patients showed lower platelet CIV-specific activity during the first week of sepsis than healthy controls. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Unlabeled Oligonucleotides as Internal Temperature Controls for Genotyping by Amplicon Melting

PubMed Central

Seipp, Michael T.; Durtschi, Jacob D.; Liew, Michael A.; Williams, Jamie; Damjanovich, Kristy; Pont-Kingdon, Genevieve; Lyon, Elaine; Voelkerding, Karl V.; Wittwer, Carl T.

2007-01-01

Amplicon melting is a closed-tube method for genotyping that does not require probes, real-time analysis, or allele-specific polymerase chain reaction. However, correct differentiation of homozygous mutant and wild-type samples by melting temperature (Tm) requires high-resolution melting and closely controlled reaction conditions. When three different DNA extraction methods were used to isolate DNA from whole blood, amplicon Tm differences of 0.03 to 0.39°C attributable to the extractions were observed. To correct for solution chemistry differences between samples, complementary unlabeled oligonucleotides were included as internal temperature controls to shift and scale the temperature axis of derivative melting plots. This adjustment was applied to a duplex amplicon melting assay for the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase variants 1298A>C and 677C>T. High- and low-temperature controls bracketing the amplicon melting region decreased the Tm SD within homozygous genotypes by 47 to 82%. The amplicon melting assay was 100% concordant to an adjacent hybridization probe (HybProbe) melting assay when temperature controls were included, whereas a 3% error rate was observed without temperature correction. In conclusion, internal temperature controls increase the accuracy of genotyping by high-resolution amplicon melting and should also improve results on lower resolution instruments. PMID:17591926

Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial of Mindfulness Training for Stress Reduction during Pregnancy

PubMed Central

Guardino, Christine M.; Dunkel Schetter, Christine; Bower, Julienne E.; Lu, Michael C.; Smalley, Susan L.

2014-01-01

This randomized controlled pilot trial tested a 6-week mindfulness-based intervention in a sample of pregnant women experiencing high levels of perceived stress and pregnancy anxiety. Forty-seven women enrolled between 10 and 25 weeks gestation were randomly assigned to either a series of weekly Mindful Awareness Practices (MAPS) classes (n = 24) with home practice or to a reading control condition (n = 23). Hierarchical linear models of between-group differences in change over time demonstrated that participants in the mindfulness intervention experienced larger decreases from pre-to post-intervention in pregnancy-specific anxiety and pregnancy-related anxiety than participants in the reading control condition. However, these effects were not sustained through follow-up at six weeks post-intervention. Participants in both groups experienced increased mindfulness, as well as decreased perceived stress and state anxiety over the course of the intervention and follow-up periods. This study is one of the first randomized controlled pilot trials of a mindfulness meditation intervention during pregnancy and provides some evidence that mindfulness training during pregnancy may effectively reduce pregnancy-related anxiety and worry. We discuss some of the dilemmas in pursuing this translational strategy and offer suggestions for researchers interested in conducting mind-body interventions during pregnancy. PMID:24180264

Is the authoritative parenting model effective in changing oral hygiene behavior in adolescents?

PubMed

Brukienė, Vilma; Aleksejūnienė, Jolanta

2012-12-01

This study examined whether the authoritative parenting model (APM) is more effective than conventional approaches for changing adolescent oral hygiene behavior. A total of 247 adolescents were recruited using a cluster random-sampling method. Subject groups were randomly allocated into an intervention group (APM-based interventions), a Control Group 1 (conventional dental education and behavior modification) or a Control Group 2 (conventional behavior modification). The results were assessed after 3 and 12 months. Oral hygiene level was assessed as percent dental plaque and the ratio of plaque percent change (RPC). At the 3-month follow-up, there were significant differences among the groups; the APM group had the largest decrease in plaque levels (24.5%), Control Group 1 showed a decrease in plaque levels of 15.4% and Control Group 2 showed an increase in plaque levels of 2.8%. At the 12-month follow-up, an improvement was observed in all groups, but there were no statistically significant differences among the groups. In the short term, the intervention based on the APM was more effective in changing adolescent oral hygiene behavior compared with the conventional approaches. The reasons for long-term positive change after discontinued interventions in control groups need to be explored in future studies.

Vintage meets contemporary: Use of rigid TBNA in the era of real-time imaging - first report from India.

PubMed

Khan, Ajmal; Nath, Alok; Lal, Hira; Krishnani, Narendra; Agarwal, Aarti

2018-01-01

In the modern era, real-time imaging-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) has completely replaced the traditional surgical approaches to sample the mediastinal lesions for diagnosis and cancer staging. However, there is a limited role of these innovations in the presence of critical airway narrowing due to a further decrease in cross-sectional area of the airway proportionate to the outer diameters of the scope. Rigid TBNA with airway control by rigid bronchoscopy is one alternative which can be used for mediastinal sampling when modern technique is impracticable. Herein, we report the use of rigid TBNA, an underutilized old method to sample the mediastinal lesion in a patient with severe orthopnea secondary to tracheal compression by mediastinal mass.

Heart failure-associated changes in RNA splicing of sarcomere genes.

PubMed

Kong, Sek Won; Hu, Yong Wu; Ho, Joshua W K; Ikeda, Sadakatsu; Polster, Sean; John, Ranjit; Hall, Jennifer L; Bisping, Egbert; Pieske, Burkert; dos Remedios, Cristobal G; Pu, William T

2010-04-01

Alternative mRNA splicing is an important mechanism for regulation of gene expression. Altered mRNA splicing occurs in association with several types of cancer, and a small number of disease-associated changes in splicing have been reported in heart disease. However, genome-wide approaches have not been used to study splicing changes in heart disease. We hypothesized that mRNA splicing is different in diseased hearts compared with control hearts. We used the Affymetrix Exon array to globally evaluate mRNA splicing in left ventricular myocardial RNA from controls (n=15) and patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (n=15). We observed a broad and significant decrease in mRNA splicing efficiency in heart failure, which affected some introns to a greater extent than others. The profile of mRNA splicing separately clustered ischemic cardiomyopathy and control samples, suggesting distinct changes in mRNA splicing between groups. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction validated 9 previously unreported alternative splicing events. Furthermore, we demonstrated that splicing of 4 key sarcomere genes, cardiac troponin T (TNNT2), cardiac troponin I (TNNI3), myosin heavy chain 7 (MYH7), and filamin C, gamma (FLNC), was significantly altered in ischemic cardiomyopathy and in dilated cardiomyopathy and aortic stenosis. In aortic stenosis samples, these differences preceded the onset of heart failure. Remarkably, the ratio of minor to major splice variants of TNNT2, MYH7, and FLNC classified independent test samples as control or disease with >98% accuracy. Our data indicate that mRNA splicing is broadly altered in human heart disease and that patterns of aberrant RNA splicing accurately assign samples to control or disease classes.

Effects of tobacco smoke and electronic cigarette vapor exposure on the oral and gut microbiota in humans: a pilot study

PubMed Central

Auchtung, Thomas A.; Ajami, Nadim J.; Velasquez, Kenia; De La Garza, Richard; Petrosino, Joseph F.

2018-01-01

Background The use of electronic cigarettes (ECs) has increased drastically over the past five years, primarily as an alternative to smoking tobacco cigarettes. However, the adverse effects of acute and long-term use of ECs on the microbiota have not been explored. In this pilot study, we sought to determine if ECs or tobacco smoking alter the oral and gut microbiota in comparison to non-smoking controls. Methods We examined a human cohort consisting of 30 individuals: 10 EC users, 10 tobacco smokers, and 10 controls. We collected cross-sectional fecal, buccal swabs, and saliva samples from each participant. All samples underwent V4 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results Tobacco smoking had a significant effect on the bacterial profiles in all sample types when compared to controls, and in feces and buccal swabs when compared to EC users. The most significant associations were found in the gut, with an increased relative abundance of Prevotella (P = 0.006) and decreased Bacteroides (P = 0.036) in tobacco smokers. The Shannon diversity was also significantly reduced (P = 0.009) in fecal samples collected from tobacco smokers compared to controls. No significant difference was found in the alpha diversity, beta-diversity or taxonomic relative abundances between EC users and controls. Discussion From a microbial ecology perspective, the current pilot data demonstrate that the use of ECs may represent a safer alternative compared to tobacco smoking. However, validation in larger cohorts and greater understanding of the short and long-term impact of EC use on microbiota composition and function is warranted. PMID:29736335