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Different Results (different + result)
Kinds of Different Results Selected AbstractsA study of the reaction between 2,4-disubstituted-2,3-dihydro-1,5-benzothiazepines and ketenes generated in situ from chloro and dichloroacetyl chloridesJOURNAL OF HETEROCYCLIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 3 2001Qi-Yi Xing In the presence of triethyl amine, the reaction of 2,4-disubstituted-2,3-dihydro-1,5-benzothiazepine with chloro and dichloroacetyl chlorides produced not only the expected ,-lactam derivative of the benzo-thiazepine, but also the ring opening product. Different results were obtained when the substituent at 2-position of the benxothiazepine varied from methyl to aryl, and the substituent on the chloroacetyl chloride varied from H to Cl, or when carrying out the reaction at different temperatures. The structures of the obtained products and the reaction mechanism are discussed. [source] Pollen-inferred palaeoclimate reconstructions in mountain areas: problems and perspectives,JOURNAL OF QUATERNARY SCIENCE, Issue 6 2006Elena Ortu Abstract Transfer functions are an efficient tool for the quantitative reconstruction of past climate from low to mid-elevation pollen sites. However, the application of existing methods to high-altitude pollen assemblages frequently leads to unrealistic results. In the aim of understanding the causes of these biases, the standard ,best modern analogue' method has been applied to two high-altitude pollen sequences to provide quantitative climate estimates for the Lateglacial and Holocene periods. Both pollen sequences (Laghi dell'Orgials, 2130,m, SW aspect and Lago delle Fate, 2240,m, E aspect) are located in the subalpine belt, on opposing sides of the St. Anna di Vinadio Valley (Italian Maritime Alps). Different results were obtained from the two sequences. The largest differences occurred in palaeotemperature reconstruction, with notable differences in both the values and trends at each site. These biases may be attributed to: (1) a lack of high elevation ,best modern analogues' in the database of modern samples; (2) the problem of pollen taxa that have multiple climatic significance; (3) problems related to the complexity of mountainous ecosystems, such as the phenomenon of uphill transport of tree pollen by wind. Possible improvements to the reconstruction process are discussed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Disturbance frequency and functional identity mediate ecosystem processes in prairie streamsOIKOS, Issue 6 2009Katie N. Bertrand A major consequence of climate change will be the alteration of precipitation patterns and concomitant changes in the flood frequencies in streams. Species losses or introductions will accompany these changes, which necessitates understanding the interactions between altered disturbance regimes and consumer functional identity to predict dynamics of streams. We used experimental mesocosms and field enclosures to test the interactive effects of flood frequency and two fishes from distinct consumer groups (benthic grazers and water-column minnows) on recovery of stream ecosystem properties (algal form and biomass, invertebrate densities, metabolism and nutrient uptake rates). Our results generally suggest that periphyton communities under nutrient limitation are likely to recover more quickly when grazing and water-column minnows are present and these effects can diminish or reverse with time since the disturbance. We hypothesized that increased periphyton production and biomass was the result of increased nutrient turnover, but decreased light limitation and indirect effects on other trophic levels are alternative explanations. Recovery of stream ecosystem properties after a natural flood differed from mesocosms (e.g. lower algal biomass and no long algal filaments present) and species manipulations did not explain recovery of ecosystem properties; rather, ecosystem processes varied along a downstream gradient of increasing temperature and nutrient concentrations. Different results between field enclosures and experimental mesocosms are attributable to a number of factors including differences in algal and invertebrate communities in the natural stream and relatively short enclosure lengths (mean area=35.8 m2) compared with recirculating water in the experimental mesocosms. These differences may provide insight into conditions necessary to elicit a strong interaction between consumers and ecosystem properties. [source] Ornithine decarboxylase activity of L929 cells after exposure to continuous wave or 50 Hz modulated radiofrequency radiation,a replication studyBIOELECTROMAGNETICS, Issue 7 2007A. Höytö Abstract A replication study with some extensions was made to confirm enhancement of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity in murine L929 fibroblasts after radiofrequency (RF) field exposure reported in earlier studies. L929 cells purchased from two cell banks were exposed for 2, 8, or 24 h to continuous wave or DAMPS (burst modulated at 50 Hz, with 33% duty cycle) signals at specific absorption rate (SAR) levels of 2.5 or 6.0 W/kg. Exposures were carried out in Crawford and waveguide chambers, at frequencies 835 and 872 MHz, respectively. The results did not confirm findings of previous studies reporting increased ODC activity in RF-exposed cells. When Crawford cell exposure system was used, ODC activity was either not affected (in the case of 8 or 24 h exposures) or decreased after 2 h exposure at the highest SAR level (6 W/kg). The decrease was most pronounced when cooling with air flow was not used, and is most likely related to increased temperature. The minor methodological differences (use of antibiotics, increased sensitivity of ODC assay) are not likely to explain the inconsistency of the findings of the present and previous studies. Different results were obtained in experiments with the waveguide system that involves more efficient temperature control. In this exposure system, ODC activity was increased after 8 h exposure at 6 W/kg. Further studies are warranted to explore whether this finding reflects a true non-thermal effect. The present study did not provide evidence for modulation-specific effects reported in earlier studies. Bioelectromagnetics 28:501,508, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Interferon-,2a is sufficient for promoting dendritic cell immunogenicityCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 3 2005A. Tamir Summary Type I interferons (IFNs) are widely used therapeutically. IFN-,2a in particular is used as an antiviral agent, but its immunomodulatory properties are poorly understood. Dendritic cells (DCs) are the only antigen-presenting cells able to prime naive T cells and therefore play a crucial role in initiating the adaptive phase of the immune response. We studied the effects of IFN-,2a on DC maturation and its role in determining Th1/Th2 equilibrium. We found that IFN-,2a induced phenotypic maturation of DCs and increased their allostimulatory capacity. When dendritic cells were stimulated simultaneously by CD40 ligation and IFN-,2a, the production of interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-12 was increased. In contrast, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation in the presence of IFN-,2a mainly induced IL-10 release. The production of IFN-, and IL-5 by the responder naive T cells was also amplified in response to IFN-,2a-treated DCs. Furthermore, IL-12 production by IFN-,2a-treated DCs was enhanced further in the presence of anti-IL-10 antibody. Different results were obtained when DCs were treated simultaneously with IFN-,2a and other maturation factors, in particular LPS, and then stimulated by CD40 ligation 36 h later. Under these circumstances, IFN-,2a did not modify the DC phenotype, and the production of IL-10/IL-12 and IFN-,/IL-5 by DCs and by DC-stimulated naive T cells, respectively, was inhibited compared to the effects on DCs treated with maturation factors alone. Altogether, this work suggests that IFN-,2a in isolation is sufficient to promote DC activation, however, other concomitant events, such as exposure to LPS during a bacterial infection, can inhibit its effects. These results clarify some of the in vivo findings obtained with IFN-,2a and have direct implications for the design of IFN-,-based vaccines for immunotherapy. [source] Influence of topical antifungal drugs on ciliary beat frequency of human nasal mucosa,THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 7 2010An In Vitro Study Abstract Objectives/Hypothesis: Topical antifungal treatment is a subject of discussion in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis. The aim of this research was to study the effects of antifungal drugs on ciliary beat frequency (CBF) of human nasal mucosa under in vitro conditions. Study Design: Case series of in vitro experiments and in vitro study of cultured ciliated cells of human nasal mucosa. Methods: Human nasal mucosa was acquired during routine endoscopic sinus surgery. Cells were cultivated on object slides and exposed to different antifungal drugs in a newly developed test system. This system allowed continuous and reproducible exposure to different drugs at constant temperature, pH value, and osmolarity. The drugs were amphotericin B in two different concentrations and itraconazole. Results: Rinsing with higher concentrations of amphotericin B led to an immediate decrease of CBF, with a total stop after 15 minutes. A different result was seen in the group with lower concentrations; CBF decreased again quickly after rinsing with the test drug, but all of them recovered after rinsing with neutral solution. When using itraconazole a decline in CBF was observed again; one half of the samples returned to activity. Conclusions: Our in vitro results demonstrate a dose-dependent effect of the antifungal drugs amphotericin B and itraconazole on ciliary beat frequency of human nose epithelium. Laryngoscope, 2010 [source] Using fractional exhaled nitric oxide to guide asthma therapy: design and methodological issues for ASthma TReatment ALgorithm studiesCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 4 2009P. G. Gibson Prof. Summary Background Current asthma guidelines recommend treatment based on the assessment of asthma control using symptoms and lung function. Noninvasive markers are an attractive way to modify therapy since they offer improvedselection of active treatment(s) based on individual response, and improvedtitration of treatment using markers that are better related to treatment outcomes. Aims: To review the methodological and design features of noninvasive marker studies in asthma. Methods Systematic assessment of published randomized trials of asthma therapy guided by fraction of exhaled nitric oxide(FENO). Results FENO has appeal as a marker to adjust asthma therapy since it is readily measured, gives reproducible results, and is responsive to changes in inhaled corticosteroid doses. However, the five randomised trials of FENO guided therapy have had mixed results. This may be because there are specific design and methodological issues that need to be addressed in the conduct of ASthma TReatment ALgorithm(ASTRAL) studies. There needs to be a clear dose response relationship for the active drugs used and the outcomes measured. The algorithm decision points should be based on outcomes in the population of interest rather than the range of values in healthy people, and the algorithm used needs to provide a sufficiently different result to clinical decision making in order for there to be any discernible benefit. A new metric is required to assess the algorithm performance, and the discordance:concordance(DC) ratio can assist with this. Conclusion Incorporating these design features into future FENO studies should improve the study performance and aid in obtaining a better estimate of the value of FENO guided asthma therapy. [source] THE SHORT-TERM EFFECTS OF EXECUTIONS ON HOMICIDES: DETERRENCE, DISPLACEMENT, OR BOTH?,CRIMINOLOGY, Issue 4 2009KENNETH C. LAND Does the death penalty save lives? In recent years, a new round of research has been using annual time-series panel data from the 50 U.S. states for 25 or so years from the 1970s to the late 1990s that claims to find many lives saved through reductions in subsequent homicide rates after executions. This research, in turn, has produced a round of critiques, which concludes that these findings are not robust enough to model even small changes in specifications that yield dramatically different results. A principal reason for this sensitivity of the findings is that few state-years exist (about 1 percent of all state-years) in which six or more executions have occurred. To provide a different perspective, we focus on Texas, a state that has used the death penalty with sufficient frequency to make possible relatively stable estimates of the homicide response to executions. In addition, we narrow the observation intervals for recording executions and homicides from the annual calendar year to monthly intervals. Based on time-series analyses and independent-validation tests, our best-fitting model shows that, from January 1994 through December 2005, evidence exists of modest, short-term reductions in homicides in Texas in the first and fourth months that follow an execution,about 2.5 fewer homicides total. Another model suggests, however, that in addition to homicide reductions, some displacement of homicides may be possible from one month to another in the months after an execution, which reduces the total reduction in homicides after an execution to about .5 during a 12-month period. Implications for additional research and the need for future analysis and replication are discussed. [source] Viability of Preadipocytes In Vitro: The Influence of Local Anesthetics and pHDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 8 2009MAIKE KECK MD BACKGROUND Autogenous fat transfer with lipoinjection for soft tissue augmentation is a commonly used surgical technique. Abundant donor tissue availability and relative ease of harvesting have made autologous fat an attractive soft tissue filler. The overall reliability of this technique is often disputed, and different authors describe different results after autologous fat transplantation despite using similar techniques. In this study, we examined the influence of different local anesthetics commonly used in fat harvest and the pH of the anesthetic solution on the viability of harvested preadipocytes. METHODS AND MATERIALS Preadipocytes were incubated with 1% lidocaine, 1% articaine plus epinephrine 1:200,000, 0.75% ropivacaine, and 1% prilocaine or our standardized tumescent solution (1 L of 0.9% sodium chloride solution plus 25 mL of 1% articaine plus epinephrine 1:200,000 plus 25 mL of bicarbonate) for 30 minutes. Additionally, we incubated cells with the local anesthetics as described above but diluted 1:2 with phosphate buffered saline (pH 7.4). Viability was measured using trypan blue dying as well as propidium iodine staining and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis. RESULTS There are significant differences in the viability of preadipocytes under the influence of various local anesthetics. DISCUSSION Our data could partially explain the varying results after autogenous fat transfer. [source] Psychiatric epidemiology of old age: the H70 study , the NAPE Lecture 2003ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 1 2004I. Skoog Objective: To describe methodological issues and possibilities in the epidemiology of old age psychiatry using data from the H70 study in Göteborg, Sweden. Method: A representative sample born during 1901,02 was examined at 70, 75, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 90, 92, 95, 97, 99 and 100 years of age, another during 1906,07 was examined at 70 and 79 years of age, and samples born between 1922 and 1930 were examined at 70 years of age. The study includes psychiatric examinations and key informant interviews performed by psychiatrists, physical examinations performed by geriatricians, psychometric testings, blood sampling, computerized tomographies of the brain, cerebrospinal fluid analyses, anthropometric measurements, and psychosocial background factors. Results: Mental disorders are found in approximately 30% of the elderly, but is seldom detected or properly treated. Incidence of depression and dementia increases with age. The relationship between blood pressure and Alzheimer's disease is an example of how cross-sectional and longitudinal studies yield completely different results. Brain imaging is an important tool in epidemiologic studies of the elderly to detect silent cerebrovascular disease and other structural brain changes. The high prevalence of psychotic symptoms is an example of the importance to use several sources of information to detect these symptoms. Dementia should be diagnosed in all types of studies in the elderly, as it influences several outcomes such as mortality, blood pressure, and rates of depression. Suicidal feelings are rare in the elderly and are strongly related to mental disorders. Conclusion: Modern epidemiologic studies in population samples should be longitudinal and include assessments of psychosocial risk factors as well as comprehensive sets of biologic markers, such as brain imaging, neurochemical analyses, and genetic information to maximize the contribution that epidemiology can provide to increase our knowledge about the etiology of mental disorders. [source] Fine-needle aspiration of the testis in azoospermic men: The value of measuring serum follicle stimulating hormone and testicular sizeDIAGNOSTIC CYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2005W.A. Mourad M.D. Abstract Testicular fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is used as a primary tool in assessing azoospermic infertile men in our institution. If the FNA is negative for sperm, a subsequent testicular biopsy specimen and wet preparation are obtained with possible immediate fertilization. To our knowledge, the value of these techniques in the context of testicular size and serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) has not been explored. We reviewed 453 FNA biopsies of the testis performed for the identification of sperm in infertile azoospermic males between 1999 and 2000. We identified cases that had all three procedures (FNA, wet preparation and biopsy) performed. These were the patients that were compared for testicular size using Seager orchiometry and serum levels of FSH. Of the 453 FNAs reviewed, 128 (21%) had all three procedures performed. Seventy-two cases (56%) were negative in all three tests, 26 (20%) cases were positive in all tests, and 30 cases (23%) had different results. These 30 cases were excluded. The testicular size in the negative group ranged from 4 to 16 ml (median, 10 ml) and the positive group had testicular sizes ranging from 10 to 25 ml (median, 15 ml; P = 0.0001). The negative group had serum FSH levels ranging from 3 to 52 IU/l (median, 19 IU/l) whereas the positive group had serum levels ranging from 3 to 26 IU/l (median, 10 IU/l; P = 0.0001). Our findings suggest that in infertile azoospermic men, a testicular size of <10 ml combined with a serum FSH level of >19 IU/l, the chances of retrieving sperm are minimal using all three diagnostic modalities. The use of this cutoff point would lead to a 30,50% reduction in the number of procedures performed. This reduction would have a significant impact on the management of these patients with a significant decrease in cost, logistics, and patient anxiety. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2005;32:185,188. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Variation in the abundance of fungal endophytes in fescue grasses along altitudinal and grazing gradientsECOGRAPHY, Issue 3 2007Gustaf Granath Epichloë festucae, a common fungal symbiont of the genus Festuca (family Poaceae), can provide its host plant with protection against herbivores. However, infection might also be associated with a cost to its host plant. We examined the distribution of Epichloë festucae infection in natural populations of three fescue grasses, Festuca rubra, F. ovina and F. vivipara, on mountains in northern Sweden to determine whether infection frequency varied with reindeer Rangifertarandus grazing pressure and altitude. Two differently-scaled approaches were used: 1) infection frequency was measured at a local scale along ten elevational transects within a ca 400 km2 area and 2) infection frequency was measured on a regional scale along elevational transects on 17 mountains classified as having a history of high or low reindeer grazing pressure. Mean infection frequencies in F. rubra were 10% (vegetative tillers at a local scale), and 23% (flowering culms at a regional scale), and in F. ovina they were 13% (local scale) and 15% (regional scale). Endophyte infection frequency in F. vivipara, was, on average, 12% (local scale) and 37% (regional scale). In F. rubra, infection decreased significantly with increasing altitude at both the local and regional scale, and was positively correlated with grazing pressure. In F. ovina, an opposite trend was found at the regional scale: infection frequency increased significantly with increasing altitude, while no discernible distribution pattern was observed at the local scale. No elevational trends were observed in infection of F. vivipara. These patterns in the distribution of endophyte-infected grasses in non-agricultural ecosystems may be explained by both biotic (grazing) and abiotic factors (altitude). Differences in ecology and life history of the studied grass species may also be of importance for the different results observed among species. [source] Extinction risk under coloured environmental noiseECOGRAPHY, Issue 2 2000Mikko Heino Positively autocorrelated red environmental noise is characterized by a strong dependence of expected sample variance on sample length. This dependence has to be taken into account when assessing extinction risk under red and white uncorrelated environmental noise. To facilitate a comparison between red and white noise, their expected variances can be scaled to be equal, but only at a chosen time scale. We show with a simple one-dimensional population dynamics model that the different but equally reasonable choices of the time scale yield qualitatively different results on the dependence of extinction risk on the colour of environmental noise: extinction risk might increase as well as decrease when the temporal correlation of noise increases. [source] Is scuba sampling a relevant method to study fish microhabitat in lakes?ECOLOGY OF FRESHWATER FISH, Issue 3 2001Examples, comparisons for three European species Abstract , We compared fish microhabitat use patterns in the littoral zone of a lake using a new direct method (point abundance sampling by scuba, PASS) and the widely used point abundance sampling by electrofishing technique (PASE). We collected microhabitat data for age 0+ roach (Rutilus rutilus L.), perch (Perca fluviatilis L.), and pike (Esox lucius L.). The two methods yielded different results for fish assemblage structure and microhabitat patterns. Using PASE, fish were mainly found in "shelter habitats" such as shallow waters and dense vegetation. It is likely that this behavior is caused by the disturbance of the observer stamping around. Using PASS, fish escapement behavior was rarely observed. Therefore, we concluded that this direct and nondestructive sampling technique can be used to provide an accurate microhabitat estimation of a fish community and is assumed to be more suitable than PASE for fish habitat studies., [source] Universal multiplex PCR and CE for quantification of SMN1/SMN2 genes in spinal muscular atrophyELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 7 2009Chun-Chi Wang Abstract We established a universal multiplex PCR and CE to calculate the copy number of survival motor neuron (SMN1 and SMN2) genes for clinical screening of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). In this study, one universal fluorescent primer was designed and applied for multiplex PCR of SMN1, SMN2 and two internal standards (CYBB and KRIT1). These amplicons were separated by conformation sensitive CE. Mixture of hydroxyethyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl cellulose were used in this CE system. Our method provided the potential to separate two 390-bp PCR products that differ in a single nucleotide. Differentiation and quantification of SMN1 and SMN2 are essential for clinical screening of SMA patients and carriers. The DNA samples included 22 SMA patients, 45 parents of SMA patients (obligatory carriers) and 217 controls. For evaluating accuracy, those 284 samples were blind-analyzed by this method and denaturing high pressure liquid chromatography (DHPLC). Eight of the total samples showed different results. Among them, two samples were diagnosed as having only SMN2 gene by DHPLC, however, they contained both SMN1 and SMN2 by our method. They were further confirmed by DNA sequencing. Our method showed good agreement with the DNA sequencing. The multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) was used for confirming the other five samples, and showed the same results with our CE method. For only one sample, our CE showed different results with MLPA and DNA sequencing. One out of 284 samples (0.35%) belonged to mismatching. Our method provided a better accurate method and convenient method for clinical genotyping of SMA disease. [source] Quantification of SMN1 and SMN2 genes by capillary electrophoresis for diagnosis of spinal muscular atrophyELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 13 2008Chun-Chi Wang Abstract We present the first CE method for the separation and quantification of SMN1 and SMN2 genes. Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an inherited neuromuscular disorder deleted or mutated in SMN1 gene and retained at least one copy of SMN2 gene. However, these two genes are highly homologous, differentiation and quantification of SMN1 and SMN2 are therefore required in diagnosis to identify SMA patients and carriers. We developed a fluorescence-labeled conformation-sensitive CE method to quantitatively analyze PCR products covering the variable position in the SMN1/SMN2 genes using a copolymer solution composed of hydroxyethylcellulose and hydroxypropylcellulose. The DNA samples included 24 SMA patients, 52 parents of SMA patients (obligatory carriers), and 255 controls. Those 331 samples were blind analyzed to evaluate the method, and the results compared with those obtained using denaturing HPLC (DHPLC). Validation of accuracy was performed by comparing the results with those of DHPLC. Nine of total samples showed different results. Diagnosis of one fetus DNA among them was related to abortion or not, which was further confirmed by gel electrophoresis and DNA sequencing. Our method showed good coincidence with them, and proved the misdiagnosis of DHPLC. This simple and reliable CE method is a powerful tool for clinical genotyping of large populations to detect carriers and SMA patients. [source] Can the choice of endpoint lead to contradictory results of mixture-toxicity experiments?ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 7 2005Nina Cedergreen Abstract Theoretically, the effect of two independently acting compounds in a mixture will depend on the slope of the dose-response curves of the individual compounds if evaluated in relation to the model of concentration addition (CA). In the present study, we explored development of the shape of the dose-response relationship for four different recommended endpoints (surface area, frond number, fresh weight-specific, and dry weight-specific relative growth rates [RGRA, RGRF, RGRFW, and RGRDW, respectively]) and for two differently acting herbicides (metsulfuron-methyl and terbuthylazine) over time (3,15 d) on the standard test plant Lemna minor to identify endpoints and experiment times for which predictions of independent action (IA) would depart the most from those of CA. After a test time of 6 d, predictions of IA based on RGRA and RGRFW showed antagonism in relation to CA. Based on RGRDW, synergy was predicted, whereas IA based on RGRF was indistinguishable from CA. To test the prediction of choice of endpoint giving different results in mixture-toxicity experiments, three endpoints and six combinations of independently acting herbicides were evaluated using isobolograms. The experiments showed that in four of six herbicide combinations, different conclusions were reached depending on endpoint. The contradictory isoboles did not follow the theory of IA and, therefore, are more likely to be related to differences in susceptibility of the physiological processes affecting each endpoint than to the shape of the dose-response curve. [source] Dynamic two state stochastic models for ecological regime shiftsENVIRONMETRICS, Issue 8 2009Jan Kloppenborg Møller Abstract A simple non-linear stochastic two state, discrete-time model is presented. The interaction between benthic and pelagic vegetation in aquatic ecosystems subject to changing external nutrient loading is described by the non-linear functions. The dynamical behavior of the deterministic part of the model illustrates that hysteresis effect and regime shifts can be obtained for a limited range of parameter values only. The effect of multiplicative noise components entering at different levels of the model is presented and discussed. Including noise leads to very different results on the stability of regimes, depending on how the noise propagates through the system. The dynamical properties of a system should therefore be described through propagation of the state distributions rather than the state means and consequently, stochastic models should be compared in a probabilistic framework. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Identification of pathotypes of Synchytrium endobioticum found in infested fields in TurkeyEPPO BULLETIN, Issue 2 2009E. Çak Pathotypes of four isolates of Synchytrium endobioticum collected from the infested areas of Turkey were determined using Glynne,Lemmerzahl and Spieckermann test methods. Two isolates (Ordu 1 and Nev,ehir 1) were tested by the Glynne,Lemmerzahl method in Germany. Ordu 1 was assigned as pathotype 1(D1) whereas the other isolate gave different results in 2 years of testing [pathotype 6(O1) or 18(T1)]. Two other isolates (Nev,ehir 2 and Nev,ehir 3) were tested using the Spieckermann method in Netherlands. Neither of these last two isolates tested were found to belong to the pathotypes known from Western Europe. The isolates Nev,ehir 2 and Nev,ehir 3 were given a new, unique code: 38 (Nev,ehir). [source] Different methods of monitoring susceptibility of oilseed rape beetles to insecticidesEPPO BULLETIN, Issue 1 2008T. Thieme The resistance of oilseed rape pollen beetles to lambda-cyhalothrin has increased in Germany over the period 2002 to 2007. Oilseed rape pollen beetles are very good at dispersing, therefore field results should always be compared with those of laboratory experiments. The response of oilseed rape pollen beetles to active substances may not be the same as that to formulated products. Bioassays in which beetles are exposed to insecticides on either complete inflorescences or flower buds give different results. It is evident that samples of the genus Meligethes collected in the field can include several different species. Monitoring for insecticide resistance should be done using only the true oilseed rape pollen beetle. [source] Decision-making method using a visual approach for cluster analysis problems; indicative classification algorithms and grouping scopeEXPERT SYSTEMS, Issue 3 2007Ran M. Bittmann Abstract: Currently, classifying samples into a fixed number of clusters (i.e. supervised cluster analysis) as well as unsupervised cluster analysis are limited in their ability to support ,cross-algorithms' analysis. It is well known that each cluster analysis algorithm yields different results (i.e. a different classification); even running the same algorithm with two different similarity measures commonly yields different results. Researchers usually choose the preferred algorithm and similarity measure according to analysis objectives and data set features, but they have neither a formal method nor tool that supports comparisons and evaluations of the different classifications that result from the diverse algorithms. Current research development and prototype decisions support a methodology based upon formal quantitative measures and a visual approach, enabling presentation, comparison and evaluation of multiple classification suggestions resulting from diverse algorithms. This methodology and tool were used in two basic scenarios: (I) a classification problem in which a ,true result' is known, using the Fisher iris data set; (II) a classification problem in which there is no ,true result' to compare with. In this case, we used a small data set from a user profile study (a study that tries to relate users to a set of stereotypes based on sociological aspects and interests). In each scenario, ten diverse algorithms were executed. The suggested methodology and decision support system produced a cross-algorithms presentation; all ten resultant classifications are presented together in a ,Tetris-like' format. Each column represents a specific classification algorithm, each line represents a specific sample, and formal quantitative measures analyse the ,Tetris blocks', arranging them according to their best structures, i.e. best classification. [source] Quantifying prehistoric soil erosion,A review of soil loss methods and their application to a Celtic square enclosure (Viereckschanze) in Southern GermanyGEOARCHAEOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 8 2007Matthias Leopold This paper discusses the strengths and weaknesses of three different methods for quantifying prehistoric soil erosion. Method A estimates erosion by determining the amount of colluvium stored downhill. Method B involves reconstructing a former erosion surface using truncated soil horizons. Method C compares the elevation of a paleosol beneath an earthwork with the modern surface in the surrounding area. Each method was applied to a Celtic earthwork (Viereckschanze) at Poign (near Regensburg) in Southern Germany in order to cross-check the different results. For an erosion area of 3.6 ha and during 300 years of agricultural usage, Method A calculates a minimum erosion rate of 20.8 t/ha/a. Method B computes 10 t/ha/a of soil loss. Method C yields the highest rate of erosion with 24.2 t/ha/a. We have confidence in Method C, which implies an underassesment of soil loss in using methods A or B. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Geothermal prognoses for tunnels in the Andes / . Geothermische Prognose für AndentunnelGEOMECHANICS AND TUNNELLING, Issue 5 2010Mag. Giorgio Höfer-Öllinger Geothermal energy - Geothermie; Reconnaissance - Baugrunderkundung; Hydrology - Hydrologie; Geology - Geologie Abstract Geothermal prognoses were carried out for two tunnel projects in the Andes, each running between Argentina and Chile. Different methods were applied in accordance with the different project phases. For the feasibility study of a 52 km long railway tunnel, hydrogeological mapping and hydrochemical analyses were carried out as well as isotope analyses on a thermal spring. An attempt to use silica and ionic solute geothermometers produced different results. For the central section of the tunnel temperatures are assumed to reach 50 to 70 °C and further investigations are recommended. The second tunnel project is now in the design phase. Two investigation phases have been completed including geological/ hydrogeological mapping, water sampling and analysis and core drilling. The geothermal gradient is well known from borehole temperature measurements. The thermal conductivity of the rocks was determined from core samples in a laboratory, and an average heat flow of approximately 100 mW/m2 was calculated. During the driving of the tunnel, temperatures of just over 50 °C are expected. Für zwei Tunnelvorhaben in den Anden, jeweils zwischen Argentinien und Chile, wurden geothermische Prognosen durchgeführt. Für verschiedene Projektphasen kamen entsprechend unterschiedliche Methoden zur Anwendung: Für eine Machbarkeitsstudie eines 52 km langen Eisenbahntunnels wurde eine Quellkartierung mit Probennahme durchgeführt sowie Isotopenanalytik an einer Thermalquelle. Ein Versuch, Geothermometer anhand der Lösungsfracht des Quellwassers zu verwenden, scheiterte. Für den zentralen Bereich des Tunnels werden Temperaturen von 50 bis 70 °C vermutet, weitere Erkundungen wurden empfohlen. Das zweite Tunnelvorhaben ist in der Planungsphase deutlich weiter. Neben Kartierungen liegen zwei Erkundungsphasen mit Kernbohrungen vor. Aus Bohrlochmessungen ist der geothermische Gradient bekannt, die Wärmeleitfähigkeit der Gesteine wurde anhand von Bohrkernen im Labor ermittelt. Es konnte ein durchschnittlicher Wärmefluss von etwa 100 mW/m2 errechnet werden, für den Tunnelvortrieb werden Gebirgstemperaturen von maximal knapp über 50 °C erwartet. [source] Numerical modelling of complex resistivity effects on a homogenous half-space at low frequenciesGEOPHYSICAL PROSPECTING, Issue 3 2006T. Ingeman-Nielsen ABSTRACT The many different existing models describing the spectral behaviour of the resistivity of geological materials at low frequency, combined with the lack of available field data, render the interpretation of complex resistivity (CR) data very difficult. With a recent interest in CR-measurements for environmental applications and thanks to technological progress, the use of wide-band frequency equipment seems promising, and it is expected to shed light on the different results among the published solutions to the electromagnetic (EM) coupling problem. We review the theory of EM-coupling over a homogeneous half-space with CR-effects and study some aspects of the complex coupling function. We advocate the use of the CR-based coupling function in the interpretation process, in order to obtain a better understanding of the physical processes involved in CR-effects. Application of the model to real field data shows systematic good agreement in two simple cases, even over wide ranges of frequencies. Interpretation with a double Cole,Cole model is applied for comparison, and in spite of good fits to the data, large differences are observed in the interpreted low-frequency dispersion. We conclude that the use of a second Cole,Cole model to describe EM-coupling may corrupt the interpretation of the low-frequency dispersion, even when only the normal range of frequencies (<100 Hz) is considered, and that the use of the actual EM-coupling expression is essential when the goal is a better understanding of interaction between CR-effects and EM-coupling. [source] An enhanced method for source parameter imaging of magnetic data collected for mineral explorationGEOPHYSICAL PROSPECTING, Issue 5 2005Richard S. Smith ABSTRACT We have developed a method for imaging magnetic data collected for mineral exploration to yield the following structural information: depth, model type (structural index) and susceptibility. The active nature of mineral exploration data requires we derive the structural information from a robust quantity: we propose that the first- or second-order analytic-signal amplitude is suitably stable. The procedure is to normalize the analytic-signal amplitude by the peak value and then use non-linear inversion to estimate the depth and the structural index for each anomaly. In our field example, different results are obtained depending on whether we inverted for the first- or second-order analytic-signal amplitude. This is probably because the two-dimensional contact, thin sheet or horizontal cylinder models we have assumed are not appropriate. In cases such as these, when our model assumptions are not correct, the results should not be interpreted quantitatively, but they might be useful for giving a qualitative indication of how the structure might vary. With a priori information, it is possible to assume a model type (i.e. set the structural index) and generate estimates of the depth and susceptibility. These data can then be gridded and imaged. If a contact is assumed, the susceptibility contrast is estimated; for the dike model, the susceptibility-thickness is estimated; for the horizontal cylinder, the susceptibility-area is estimated. To emphasize that the results are dependent on our assumed model, we advocate prefixing any derived quantity by the term ,apparent'. [source] Relining of prosthesis with auto-polymerizing hard denture reline resins: effect of post-polymerization treatment on flexural strengthGERODONTOLOGY, Issue 3 2009Jessica Mie Ferreira Koyama Takahashi Background:, It has been suggested that microwave irradiation and prosthesis immersion in hot water after its polymerization may improve mechanical and viscoelastic properties of acrylic resins. Purpose:, This study was proposed to verify the influence of microwave post-polymerization (PP) treatment over the flexural strength of thermo-polymerizing acrylic resin specimens (QC-20) relined or not with two different composition hard chairside auto-polymerizing reliners [Kooliner (K) and New Truliner (NT)]. Materials and Methods:, For this study, 50 specimens of 64 × 10 × 3.3 mm were polymerized and distributed into five groups. G1 (control) specimens without relining and PP; G2 specimens relined with K, without PP; G3 specimens relined with NT, without PP; G4 specimens relined with K, with PP (microwave irradiation with 650 W for 5 min); G5 specimens relined with NT, with PP. Tests were performed on a universal testing machine Instron 4411 with compression speed of 5 mm/min. Results:, Specimens of K without PP did not show statistically different results (p < 0.05) when compared with control. However, when submitted to PP these specimens showed a significant increase in flexural strength. Specimens of NT showed the lowest flexural strength of all groups, with or without PP when compared with control and K groups. Conclusion:, Microwave PP (650 W for 5 min) proved to be an effective method of improving the flexural strength of K relined prosthesis. However, it did not seem to affect NT specimens. [source] Debating the greening vs. browning of the North American boreal forest: differences between satellite datasetsGLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2010DOMINGO ALCARAZ-SEGURA Abstract A number of remote sensing studies have evaluated the temporal trends of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI or vegetation greenness) in the North American boreal forest during the last two decades, often getting quite different results. To examine the effect that the use of different datasets might be having on the estimated trends, we compared the temporal trends of recently burned and unburned sites of boreal forest in central Canada calculated from two datasets: the Global Inventory, Monitoring, and Modeling Studies (GIMMS), which is the most commonly used 8 km dataset, and a new 1 km dataset developed by the Canadian Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRS). We compared the NDVI trends of both datasets along a fire severity gradient in order to evaluate the variance in regeneration rates. Temporal trends were calculated using the seasonal Mann,Kendall trend test, a rank-based, nonparametric test, which is robust against seasonality, nonnormality, heteroscedasticity, missing values, and serial dependence. The results showed contrasting NDVI trends between the CCRS and the GIMMS datasets. The CCRS dataset showed NDVI increases in all recently burned sites and in 50% of the unburned sites. Surprisingly, the GIMMS dataset did not capture the NDVI recovery in most burned sites and even showed NDVI declines in some burned sites one decade after fire. Between 50% and 75% of GIMMS pixels showed NDVI decreases in the unburned forest compared with <1% of CCRS pixels. Being the most broadly used dataset for monitoring ecosystem and carbon balance changes, the bias towards negative trends in the GIMMS dataset in the North American boreal forest has broad implications for the evaluation of vegetation and carbon dynamics in this region and globally. [source] Hospital ownership and quality of care: what explains the different results in the literature?HEALTH ECONOMICS, Issue 12 2008Karen Eggleston Abstract This systematic review examines what factors explain the diversity of findings regarding hospital ownership and quality. We identified 31 observational studies written in English since 1990 that used multivariate analysis to examine quality of care at nonfederal general acute, short-stay US hospitals. We find that pooled estimates of ownership effects are sensitive to the subset of studies included and the extent of overlap among hospitals analyzed in the underlying studies. Ownership does appear to be systematically related to differences in quality among hospitals in several contexts. Whether studies find for-profit and government-controlled hospitals to have higher mortality rates or rates of adverse events than their nonprofit counterparts depends on data sources, time period, and region covered. Policymakers should be aware of the underlying reasons for conflicting evidence in this literature, and the strengths and weaknesses of meta-analytic synthesis. The ,true' effect of ownership appears to depend on institutional context, including differences across regions, markets, and over time. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] On the empirical association between poor health and low socioeconomic status at old ageHEALTH ECONOMICS, Issue 3 2002Christian Salas Abstract Epidemiologic studies using mortality rates as indicators of health fail to find any meaningful association between poor health and low socioeconomic status in older age-groups, whereas economic studies using self-assessed health consistently find a significant positive correlation, even after controlling for self-reporting errors. Such contradictory results have not been reported for working age individuals. A simple explanation might be that the elderly samples on which the epidemiologic and economic studies are based come from different populations. However, this paper shows that similar contradictory results are obtained even when the same samples are used, simply by switching between self-assessed health and mortality as health indicators. An alternative explanation is proposed, namely that these health indicators yield different results because they relate to different ranges of the latent health variable at old age. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] High-resolution mapping of the 8p23.1 beta-defensin cluster reveals strictly concordant copy number variation of all genes,HUMAN MUTATION, Issue 10 2008Marco Groth Abstract One unexpected feature of the human genome is the high structural variability across individuals. Frequently, large regions of the genome show structural polymorphisms and many vary in their abundance. However, accurate methods for the characterization and typing of such copy number variations (CNV) are needed. The defensin cluster at the human region 8p23.1 is one of the best studied CNV regions due to its potential clinical relevance for innate immunity, inflammation, and cancer. The region can be divided into two subclusters, which harbor predominantly either alpha- or beta-defensin genes. Previous studies assessing individual copy numbers gave different results regarding whether the complete beta-defensin cluster varies or only particular genes therein. We applied multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) to measure defensin locus copy numbers in 42 samples. The data show strict copy number concordance of all 10 loci typed within the beta-defensin cluster in each individual, while seven loci within the alpha-defensin cluster are consistently found as single copies per chromosome. The exception is DEFA3, which is located within the alpha-defensin cluster and was found to also differ in copy number interindividually. Absolute copy numbers ranged from two to nine for the beta-defensin cluster and zero to four for DEFA3. The CNV-typed individuals, including HapMap samples, are publicly available and may serve as a universal reference for absolute copy number determination. On this basis, MLPA represents a reliable technique for medium- to high-throughput typing of 8p23.1 defensin CNV in association studies for diverse clinical phenotypes. Hum Mutat 0,1,8, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||