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Linear Increase (linear + increase)
Kinds of Linear Increase Selected AbstractsEffects of Fat on Temporal Cooling by Menthol in LozengesJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 8 2001A-M.A. Allison ABSTRACT: Ingredients such as fat may suppress or enhance menthol cooling in a finished product. In this study, trained descriptive sensory panelists tested oral and nasal cooling, oral burn, and other attributes in lozenges with various concentrations of fat (0 to 5%) and menthol (0 to 0.4%). Increasing fat content reduced oral and nasal cooling and burn. Linear increases in menthol resulted in linear responses to nasal cooling and oral burn and nonlinear responses to oral cooling. Residual oral and nasal cooling and burn illustrated that the effect of fat became less important after the lozenge was expectorated. [source] Simulation of Direct-Current Microdischarges for Application in Electro-Thermal Class of Small Satellite Propulsion DevicesCONTRIBUTIONS TO PLASMA PHYSICS, Issue 1-2 2007P. S. Kothnur Abstract Microdischarges are miniature non-equilibrium plasma discharges with characteristic dimensions of ,10's,100's ,m and relatively high operating pressures of ,10's,100's Torr. Microdischarges possess several unique properties that have been exploited in a number of new applications. We have recently proposed amicrodischargebased electro-thermal class of microthrusters for small satellite propulsion. These devices utilize intense gas heating in microdischarges to preheat a propellant gas stream before it is expanded in a micronozzle to produce thrust; thereby improving specific impulse of the device over a conventional cold gas microthruster. This paper addresses direct-current microdischarge phenomena in a flowing gas stream. A two-dimensional, selfconsistent, fluid model of a helium microdischarge in a bulk gas flow is developed. For relatively high current/power levels considered in this study, the microdischarge operates in an abnormal glow mode with positive differential resistivity. Increasing discharge pressures for fixed power and bulk flow rates results in a decrease in charged species densities and the electron and gas temperatures. Also the discharge becomes increasingly constricted with increasing pressures, resulting in a more normal glow mode-like operation. Increasing bulk flow rates results in exactly the same trends as increasing pressures. For given input power and pressure, there exists an optimum flow rate for which the average outlet gas temperature from the discharge is a maximum. An increase in input electrical power results in an almost linear increase in the gas temperatures; this property of microdischarges is the key feature that is exploited in our microdischarge-based thruster concept. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Changes in patterns of excessive alcohol consumption in 25 years of high security hospital admissions from England and WalesCRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR AND MENTAL HEALTH, Issue 1 2003Celia McMahon Background It is now generally acknowledged that alcohol abuse increases the risk of violence among people with major mental disorder. Studies in the 1980s and earlier, however, tended to report an inverse relationship between their alcohol use and violence. Aims A study was undertaken to test a hypothesis that among people with major mental disorder considered to pose a serious risk to others the likelihood of excessive alcohol consumption in a period leading up to a violent or dangerous act has increased over time. Methods Analysis was made of annual high security hospital admission cohort case register data of 1 January 1975 to 31 December 1999; alcohol use data were taken from interview and records, and problem drinking defined as consumption of alcohol in excess of 21 units per week during the 12 months prior to the index offence or act. Results There was a linear increase in the proportion of patients in five-year admission cohorts who had engaged in excessive alcohol consumption during the year prior to their index offence or act. The increase was steeper among women than men, but cut across all diagnosis and offending groups. It was strongly associated with increasing tendency to abuse illicit drugs. Conclusions The greater proportion of patients affected by excessive alcohol consumption occurred in spite of a reduction over the same period in admission of people in the diagnostic groups most likely to be implicated in substance misuse (personality disorder). This increased trend may simply reflect similar trends in the general population, but may also be associated with a lack of services or current consensus on appropriate treatment for patients whose mental illness is complicated by excessive alcohol use. Regardless, the trend suggests a growing need for ,dual diagnosis' services within and outside high security hospital. Copyright © 2003 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] Regional Diastolic and Systolic Function by Strain Rate Imaging for the Detection of Intramural Viability during Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography in a Porcine Model of Myocardial InfarctionECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Issue 5 2010Carsten Schneider M.D. The aim of this study was to evaluate diastolic and systolic strain rate measurements for differentiation of transmural/nontransmural infarction during dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE). An ameroid constrictor was placed around the circumflex artery in 23 pigs inducing chronic vessel occlusion. Five pigs without constrictor served as controls. During high-dose DSE systolic strain rates (SRsys), systolic and postsystolic strain values (,sys, ,ps) and early and late diastolic strain rates (SRE and SRA) were determined. At week 6, animals were evaluated regarding myocardial fibrosis. Histology revealed nontransmural in 14 and transmural infarction in 9 animals. In controls, dobutamine induced a linear increase of SRsys to 12.3 ± 0.4 s,1 at 40 ,g/kg per minute (P = 0.001) and a linear decrease of SRE to ,6.6 ± 0.3 s,1 (P = 0.001). In the nontransmural group, SRsys, ,sys, ,ps at rest, and during DSE were higher and SRE was lower than in the transmural infarction group (P = 0.01). Best predictors for viability were SRsys (ROC 0.96, P = 0.0003), SRE at 10 ,g/kg per minute dobutamine stimulation (ROC 0.94, P = 0.001) and positive SR values during isovolumetric relaxation at 40 ,g/kg per minute dobutamine (ROC 0.86, P = 0.004). The extension of fibrosis correlated with SRsys at rest, ,sys at rest, and SRE at rest (P < 0.001). For the detection of viability similar diagnostic accuracies of SRE and SRsys were seen (sensitivity 93%/93%, specificity 96%/94%, respectively). Diastolic SR analysis seems to be equipotent for the identification of viable myocardium in comparison to systolic SR parameters and allows the differentiation of nontransmural from transmural myocardial infarction with high diagnostic accuracy. (Echocardiography 2010;27:552-562) [source] Spatio-temporal shifts in gradients of habitat quality for an opportunistic avian predatorECOGRAPHY, Issue 2 2003Fabrizio Sergio We used the conceptual framework of the theory of natural selection to study breeding habitat preferences by an opportunistic avian predator, the black kite Milvus migrans. In Europe, black kite populations are mostly found near large networks of aquatic habitats, usually considered optimal for foraging and breeding. We hypothesized that proximity to wetlands could vary among individuals and affect their fitness, and thus be subject to natural selection. We tested the hypothesis first on a population on Lake Lugano (Italian pre-Alps) which has been monitored for nine years, and then on seven other populations, each studied for four,five years, located along a continuum of habitat from large water bodies to scarce aquatic habitat of any kind. In the Lake Lugano population, black kite abundance was negatively related to distance to the lake in all the nine years of study, consistent with long-term natural selection. There was evidence of ongoing directional selection on strategic nest location in three of the years, and evidence of stabilizing selection in two years. In eight of the nine years the trend was for a linear increase in fitness with increasing proximity to the lake. At the population level, results were consistent with adaptive habitat choice in relation to the previous year's spatial variation in fitness: higher associations between fitness and distance to the lake (i.e. higher selection gradients) resulted in higher density variations in the following year, in turn related to the availability of fish, the main local prey. The progressive decline of inland pairs and increase in the density of lakeshore pairs caused a directional long-term trend of declining mean distance to the lake. Breeding near aquatic habitats was associated with higher foraging success, and higher frequency and biomass of prey deliveries to offspring. There was weak evidence of selection in other populations. The inland-wetland gradient of habitat quality may have been affected by predation risk, as estimated by density of a major predator of adults and nestlings, the eagle owl Bubo bubo. Behavioral decisions at the level of the individual probably translated into population effects on density and distribution at various spatial scales. Populations in optimal habitats showed higher density and produced six times as many young per unit space as those in sub-optimal habitats. [source] Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning at local and regional spatial scalesECOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 4 2002Emily M. Bond Local niche complementarity among species (the partitioning of species based upon niche differentiation) is predicted to affect local ecosystem functioning positively. However, recent theory predicts that greater local diversity may hinder local ecosystem functioning when diversity is enhanced through source,sink dynamics. We suggest community assembly as a way to incorporate both the local and regional processes that determine biodiversity and its consequent effects on ecosystem functioning. From this, we propose a hump-shaped relationship between diversity and ecosystem functioning at local scales, but a linear increase of functioning with diversity at regional scales due to regional complementarity. [source] Extracellular phosphatase activity of natural plankton studied with ELF97 phosphate: fluorescence quantification and labelling kineticsENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2003í Nedoma Summary ELF®97 phosphate (ELFP) is a phosphatase substrate which produces ELF®97 alcohol (ELFA), a fluorescent water-insoluble product, upon hydrolysis. We studied the kinetics of ELFA precipitation in freshwater samples at levels of total plankton and single phytoplankton cells, and tested the suitability of ELFP for measurement of surface-bound algal extracellular phosphatases. Samples from acidic Ple,né Lake (pH , 5; high phosphatase activity) and eutrophic ,ímov reservoir (pH ,7,10; moderate phosphatase activity) were incubated with ELFP for 5,300 min, fixed with HgCl2 and filtered through polycarbonate filters. Relative fluorescence of filter-retained ELFA precipitates was quantified with image analysis. Time-courses of ELFA formation exhibited lag periods followed by finite periods of linear increase. In Ple,né Lake, lag-times were shorter (1,18 min) and rates of increase in ELFA fluorescence higher (by ,2 orders of magnitude) than in ,ímov reservoir (lag-times 30,200 min). Similar patterns of ELFA formation kinetics were also observed in Ple,né Lake samples in cuvette spectrofluorometer measurements (which failed in ,ímov reservoir). Linear regression of seasonal data on rates of increase in ELFA fluorescence from image cytometry and spectrofluorometry (r2 = 0.65, n = 10) allowed for calibration of image cytometry in terms of amount of cell-associated ELFA. Preliminary measurements of extracellular phosphatase activities of several algae resulted in rates (10,2260 fmol cell,1 h,1) which are comparable to data reported in the literature for algal cultures. [source] Immunocompetence of bivalve hemocytes as evaluated by a miniaturized phagocytosis assayENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 3 2002C. Blaise Abstract Immune function in bivalves can be adversely affected by long-term exposure to environmental contaminants. Investigating alterations in immunity can therefore yield relevant information about the relationship between exposure to environmental contaminants and susceptibility to infectious diseases. We have developed a rapid, cost-effective, and miniaturized immunocompetence assay to evaluate the phagocytic activity, viability, and concentration of hemocytes in freshwater and marine bivalves. Preliminary experiments were performed to optimize various aspects of the assay including 1) the time required for adherence of hemocytes to polystyrene microplate wells, 2) the time required for internalization of fluorescent bacteria, 3) the ratio of hemocytes to fluorescent bacteria in relation to phagocytosis, 4) hemolymph plasma requirements, and 5) the elimination of fluorescence from (noninternalized) bacteria adhering to the external surface of hemocytes. The results of these experiments showed the optimal adherence time for hemocytes in microplate wells to be 1 h, that phagocytosis required at least 2 h of contact with fluorescently labeled E. coli cells, that the number of fluorescent E. coli cells had a positive effect on phagocytic activity, that at least 2.5 million cells/mL were required to measure a significant intake, and that a linear increase in uptake of bacteria (R = 0.91; p < 0.01) could be obtained with concentrations of up to 1.3 × 106 hemocytes/mL. Afterward, the assay was used in two field studies to identify sites having the potential to affect the immunocompetence of bivalves. The first study was conducted on Mya arenaria clams collected at selected contaminated sites in the Saguenay River (Quebec, Canada), and the second examined Elliptio complanata freshwater bivalves that had been exposed to a municipal effluent plume in the St. Lawrence River (Quebec, Canada). In the Saguenay River field study a significant increase in phagocytosis was observed at sites closest to polluted areas. Phagocytotic activity varied over time and was highest during the warmest months (June, July, and August), closely paralleling the spawning period of Mya arenaria clams. In contrast, a drop in phagocytic activity was observed in Elliptio complanata mussels exposed to surface water 4 km downstream of a major municipal effluent plume, with a concomitant increase in the number of hemocytes in the hemolymph. It appears that both immunosuppressive and immunostimulative effects are likely to occur in the field and that responses will be influenced by the type and intensity of contaminants at play. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 17: 160,169, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/tox.10047 [source] Solubilities and surface activities of phthalates investigated by surface tension measurementsENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2001Marianne Thomsen Abstract Aueous solutions of DEP (di-ethyl), DnBP (di- n -butyl), DnH(6)P (di- n -hexyl), and DEHP (di-[2-ethyl-hexyl])phthalates have been investigated by use of surface tension measurements at temperatures between 10 and 35°C. A tensiometric approach allows for the determination of unimeric solubilities and ,G°, which is the standard Gibbs free energy change, for the dissolution of phthalates in water. The unimeric solubility of the phthalates increase with decreasing temperature. The ,G° shows a linear increase with increasing phthalate alkyl chain length. The contribution of enthalpy (,H°) and entropy (,S°) to ,G° were calculated from the temperature-dependent solubilities. The contributions of both ,H° and ,S° are negative and increase in magnitude with increasing alkyl chain length, suggesting hydrophobic interactions between phthalates and water. The ability of different phthalates to lower the surface tension decreases with increasing alkyl chain length, whereas the relative affinity for adsorption in the air-water interface increases drastically for long-chain phthalates. Despite the low surface activity of phthalates compared with that of common surfactants, they show significant affinity for adsorption in air-water interfaces of natural surface waters. This property, combined with their low solubilities, may affect the fate of these compounds within the natural environment, because they form emulsions above unimeric saturation in aqueous media. [source] Liposome-mediated uptake of exogenous DNA by equine spermatozoa and applications in sperm-mediated gene transferEQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 1 2008B. A. BALL Summary Reasons for performing study: Sperm-mediated gene transfer has been reported as a method for production of transgenic animals in a variety of species, and this technique represents a possible method for production of transgenic equids. Objectives: To evaluate the uptake of exogenous DNA (enhanced green fluorescent protein; pEGFP) by equine spermatozoa and to assess the ability of transfected spermatozoa to introduce this transgene into early equine embryos. Methods: To evaluate incorporation of pEGFP into equine spermatozoa, washed spermatozoa were incubated with 32P-pEGFP, with or without lipofection. Spermatozoa were also transfected with fluorescently-labelled DNA (Alexa647 -pEGFP) and changes in sperm viability and DNA uptake were assessed. Mares were inseminated with pEGFP-transfected spermatozoa and embryos recovered. Expression of pEGFP was assessed by epifluorescence microscopy of embryos, and the presence of pEGFP DNA and mRNA was assessed by PCR and RT-PCR, respectively. Results: Liposome-mediated transfection increased the incorporation of 32P-pEGFP into spermatozoa compared to controls. Flow cytometric evaluation of spermatozoa after transfection with Alexa647 -pEGFP revealed a linear increase in the proportion of live, Alexa647+ spermatozoa with increasing DNA concentrations. After insemination with transfected spermatozoa, 8 embryos were recovered. There was no evidence of EGFP expression in the recovered embryos; however, PCR analysis revealed evidence of the pEGFP transgene in 2 of 5 embryos analysed. Conclusions: The incorporation of exogenous DNA by equine spermatozoa was enhanced by liposome-mediated transfection and this did not adversely affect sperm viability, acrosomal integrity or fertility. Although the EGFP transgene was detected in a proportion of Day 7,10 embryos, there was no evidence of expression of EGFP in these embryos. Potential relevance: Sperm-mediated gene transfer offers a potential technique for the generation of transgenic equids. [source] In vitro determination of active bile acid absorption in small biopsy specimens obtained endoscopically or surgically from the human intestineEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 2 2002K-A. Ung Abstract Background In the construction of a Kock reservoir for continent urinary diversion, 70 cm of the distal ileum are used. Impaired absorption of bile acids in these patients might cause diarrhoea. Data on the absorption of bile acids in different parts of the human intestine are limited. Methods Biopsies were taken during endoscopy from the duodenum, the terminal ileum or the right colon, and during surgery 10, 50, 100 and 150 cm proximally to the ileo-caecal valve using standard endoscopy biopsy forceps. The biopsy specimens were incubated in vitro with radio-labelled taurocholic acid at 37 °C for 22 or 45 min The radioactivity was determined using the liquid scintillation technique. Results A linear increase in the uptake was observed, with increased concentrations of taurocholic acid between 100 and 500 µm in all specimens tested, that represented passive uptake or unspecific binding. The active uptake could be calculated from the intercept of the line representing passive uptake with the ordinate. The active uptake in the terminal ileum was 3,4 times greater than 100 cm proximal to the valve. Conclusions The active absorption of bile acids in humans can be determined in small biopsy specimens taken using standard biopsy forceps during endoscopy or surgery. This method is suitable for clinical studies of bile acid absorption. Active uptake of bile acids not only takes place in the very distal part of the ileum but also to a considerable degree 100 cm proximally to the ileo-colonic valve. This should be taken into account when selecting the ileal segment for continent urinary diversion. [source] Near-infrared spectroscopy for the determination of lipid oxidation in cereal food productsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF LIPID SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 12 2006Abderrahmane Aït Kaddour Abstract The present study was aimed at determining the ability of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to in situ describe fat oxidation kinetics in three different cereal-based products: salted crackers (20% saturated palm oil and lauric oil, sprayed on surface); healthy crackers (10% unsaturated rapeseed oil, homogeneously distributed inside the product matrix); and moist pasteurised Asian noodles (1.5% unsaturated rapeseed oil, sprayed on surface). Products were stored under accelerated oxidation conditions at 40,°C. Lipid oxidation rates were determined from peroxide value (PV) measurements. We observed no significant changes in PV for the dry crackers (3,meq/kg after 60,days), a slight linear increase in PV for the healthy crackers (40,meq/kg after 60,days), and a rapid increase for the Asian noodles (80,meq/kg after 20,days). The NIR spectra were recorded between 1000 and 2500,nm by using a Fourier Transform NIR spectrometer, using an external probe. Measurements were done directly in situ on the product, on the ground samples, and on the extracted fat phase. The analysis of NIR spectral data by PLS statistical methods demonstrated some correlation trends (R2,=,0.575,0.897; RMSEC,=,17,55%) for the products having a significant increase in PV. It was not possible to propose predictive models to calculate the oxidation rate. [source] Keratinocytes: a source of the transmitter l -glutamate in the epidermisEXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY, Issue 12 2009Matthias Fischer Abstract:, Various glutamate receptors have been described in both keratinocytes and melanocytes. l -Glutamate is the physiological agonist of the glutamate receptor family. The source of this transmitter had not yet been identified. In normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK) and HaCaT-keratinocytes, cell supernatants were sampled in various stages of cell density and the l -glutamate content photometrically determined. The following examination time-points were defined: non-confluent (ca. 33%), subconfluent (ca. 70%) and confluent (90,100%). The l -glutamate concentration originally in the culture medium was 14.7 mg/l (0.1 mm/l). The l -glutamate concentration in the cell supernatant increased in NHEK with increasing cell density: non-confluent 39.9 ± 4 mg/l, subconfluent 60.6 ± 15.8 mg/l, confluent 100.7 ± 33.2 mg/l. A linear increase of l -glutamate concentration was also found for HaCaT cells. The investigations show that keratinocytes are capable of producing and releasing l -glutamate. Thus they are a source of l -glutamate which acts as a transmitter on epidermal glutamate receptors. [source] Growth and physiological acclimation to temperature and inorganic carbon availability by two submerged aquatic macrophyte species, Callitriche cophocarpa and Elodea canadensisFUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2000B. Olesen Abstract 1.,Interactive effects of temperature and inorganic carbon availability on photosynthetic acclimation and growth of two submerged macrophyte species, Elodea canadensis and Callitriche cophocarpa, were examined to test the hypotheses that: (1) effects of temperature on growth rate and photosynthetic acclimation are suppressed under low inorganic carbon availability; (2) the plants compensate for the reduction in activity of individual enzymes at lower temperatures by increasing the activity per unit plant mass, here exemplified by Rubisco. The experiments were performed in the laboratory where plants were grown in a factorial combination of three temperatures (7,25 °C) and three inorganic carbon regimes. 2.,The relative growth rate of both species was strongly affected by growth conditions and increased by up to 4·5 times with increased temperature and inorganic carbon availability. The sensitivity to inorganic carbon was greatest at high temperature and the sensitivity to temperature greatest at high carbon concentrations. 3.,Photosynthetic acclimation occurred in response to growth conditions for both species. The affinity for inorganic carbon and the photosynthetic capacity, both measured at 15 °C, increased with reduced inorganic carbon availability during growth and were greater at warmer than at cooler growth temperature. The acclimative change in photosynthesis was related to the extent of temperature and inorganic carbon stress. Using data for Elodea, a negative relationship between degree of temperature stress and photosynthetic performance was found. In relation to inorganic carbon, a linear increase in CO2 affinity and photosynthetic capacity was found with increased inorganic carbon stress during growth. 4.,The total Rubisco activity declined with increased inorganic carbon availability during growth and with enhanced growth temperature. In addition, the activation state of Rubisco was higher at cooler than at warmer temperatures for Callitriche. This suggests that low-temperature grown plants compensate for the temperature-dependent reduction in activity of the individual Rubisco molecules by enhancing resource allocations towards Rubisco. [source] Enhanced litter input rather than changes in litter chemistry drive soil carbon and nitrogen cycles under elevated CO2: a microcosm studyGLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2009LINGLI LIU Abstract Elevated CO2 has been shown to stimulate plant productivity and change litter chemistry. These changes in substrate availability may then alter soil microbial processes and possibly lead to feedback effects on N availability. However, the strength of this feedback, and even its direction, remains unknown. Further, uncertainty remains whether sustained increases in net primary productivity will lead to increased long-term C storage in soil. To examine how changes in litter chemistry and productivity under elevated CO2 influence microbial activity and soil C formation, we conducted a 230-day microcosm incubation with five levels of litter addition rate that represented 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.4 and 1.8 × litterfall rates observed in the field for aspen stand growing under control treatments at the Aspen FACE experiment in Rhinelander, WI, USA. Litter and soil samples were collected from the corresponding field control and elevated CO2 treatment after trees were exposed to elevated CO2 (560 ppm) for 7 years. We found that small decreases in litter [N] under elevated CO2 had minor effects on microbial biomass carbon, microbial biomass nitrogen and dissolved inorganic nitrogen. Increasing litter addition rates resulted in linear increase in total C and new C (C from added litter) that accumulated in whole soil as well as in the high density soil fraction (HDF), despite higher cumulative C loss by respiration. Total N retained in whole soil and in HDF also increased with litter addition rate as did accumulation of new C per unit of accumulated N. Based on our microcosm comparisons and regression models, we expected that enhanced C inputs rather than changes in litter chemistry would be the dominant factor controlling soil C levels and turnover at the current level of litter production rate (230 g C m,2 yr,1 under ambient CO2). However, our analysis also suggests that the effects of changes in biochemistry caused by elevated CO2 could become significant at a higher level of litter production rate, with a trend of decreasing total C in HDF, new C in whole soil, as well as total N in whole soil and HDF. [source] The effect of forage type and level of concentrate supplementation on the performance of spring-calving dairy cows in early lactationGRASS & FORAGE SCIENCE, Issue 3 2002P. Dillon Abstract In 1993 and 1994, 40 cows in early lactation in early spring were assigned randomly to four feeding treatments. One group of cows was kept indoors with access to grass silage ad libitum, plus 6 kg of concentrate daily. The other three groups had access to grass pasture (5,6 h per day in 1993 and 11,12 h per day in 1994) plus grass silage similar to that fed to the previous group while indoors plus 6, 4 or 2 kg of concentrate daily. The average daily allocations of herbage (> 3·5 cm) were 8·5 and 14·0 kg DM cow,1 day,1 in 1993 and 1994 respectively. The treatments were applied for 8 weeks (26 February to 23 April) in 1993, and 7 weeks (11 March to 29 April) in 1994. Cows with access to pasture had lower (P < 0·001) silage dry-matter (DM) intakes and higher (P < 0·001) total forage DM intakes in both years than those kept indoors. This resulted in significantly higher yields of milk, fat, protein and lactose. Similarly, milk protein concentration was higher (P < 0·05 in 1993; P < 0·001 in 1994). There was a significant linear increase in total DM intake in both years with increased concentrate supplementation. In 1993, there was a linear increase in milk (P < 0·01), fat (P < 0·01), protein (P < 0·001) and lactose (P < 0·01) yields with increased concentrate supplementation. In 1994, only milk protein yield (P < 0·05) was increased. Concentrate supplementation had no effect on milk composition or liveweight change. Cows with access to grazed grass had higher liveweight gains (P < 0·05) than those kept indoors in both years. In 1993, increasing the energy intake increased the processing qualities of the milk produced. The results showed that access to grass pasture resulted in higher milk production, in reduced silage requirement and in reduced level of concentrate supplementation required for a given level of milk production with spring-calving cows in early lactation compared with those kept indoors. [source] Chronic effects of low to moderate alcohol consumption on structural and functional properties of the brain: beneficial or not?,HUMAN PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY: CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL, Issue 3 2009Marinus N. Verbaten Abstract Objective Some studies suggest that the effects of low to moderate drinking (about 1,3 standard glasses of alcohol per day) on the brain and cognitive performance are positive. In the present study this hypothesis is investigated. Methods For this purpose studies on the effects of low to moderate drinking on brain structure (Magnetic Resonance Induction (MRI) studies) and on cognitive performance were analysed and discussed Results In MRI studies, a linear negative effect of alcohol consumption on brain volume was found. Furthermore, a linear decrease in grey matter concurring with a linear increase in white matter volumes as a function of number of drinks was reported in males, but not in females. Only in elderly low to moderate drinkers (aged,>,65 years) there appeared to be an U-shaped relationship between alcohol consumption and white matter integrity (grade) on the one hand and cognition on the other hand. Conclusions The changes reported in brain shrinkage, grey matter and white matter volume, as a result of low to moderate alcohol consumption sooner offer support for the contention that such drinking decreases brain health than for its beneficial effect. An exception might hold for elderly light and moderate drinkers where less white matter damage was found than in abstainers concurring with better cognitive performance. However, methodological problems impose limits on this conclusion. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] IHMS,Integrated Hydrological Modelling System.HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 19 2010Part 2. Abstract The integrated hydrological modelling system, IHMS, has been described in detail in Part 1 of this paper. The system comprises three models: Distributed Catchment Scale Model (DiCaSM), MODFLOW (v96 and v2000) and SWI. The DiCaSM simulates different components of the unsaturated zone water balance, including groundwater recharge. The recharge output from DiCaSM is used as input to the saturated zone model MODFLOW, which subsequently calculates groundwater flows and head distributions. The main objectives of this paper are: (1) to show the way more accurate predictions of groundwater levels in two Cyprus catchments can be obtained using improved estimates of groundwater recharge from the catchment water balance, and (2) to demonstrate the interface utility that simulates communication between unsaturated and saturated zone models and allows the transmission of data between the two models at the required spatial and temporal scales. The linked models can be used to predict the impact of future climate change on surface and groundwater resources and to estimate the future water supply shortfall in the island up to 2050. The DiCaSM unsaturated zone model was successfully calibrated and validated against stream flows with reasonable values for goodness of fit as shown by the Nash-Sutcliffe criterion. Groundwater recharge obtained from the successful tests was applied at various spatial and temporal scales to the Kouris and Akrotiri catchments in Cyprus. These recharge values produced good estimates of groundwater levels in both catchments. Once calibrated, the model was run using a number of possible future climate change scenarios. The results showed that by 2050, groundwater and surface water supplies would decrease by 35% and 24% for Kouris and 20% and 17% for Akrotiri, respectively. The gap between water supply and demand showed a linear increase with time. The results suggest that IHMS can be used as an effective tool for water authorities and decision makers to help balance demand and supply on the island. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Infants' Use of Constraints to Speed Information Processing and to Anticipate EventsINFANCY, Issue 4 2002Thomas M. Dougherty Two experiments were conducted with 28-week-old infants using a modification of the Visual Expectation Paradigm. The first sought to determine whether speed of information processing (SIP) could be assessed in infants using a reaction time (RT) measure and approach that is widely used to measure SIP in adults. Infants saw a center fixation cue followed by a peripheral target that could appear in 1, 2, or 4 locations. There was a linear increase in RT of eye movements as the number of locations increased from 1 to 2 and to 4 targets, suggesting that the paradigm does measure SIP. The second experiment asked whether varying the number of cue-target pairings would augment or impair infant's SIP in the trade-off between the benefit of additional information and the liability of additional memory load. The findings showed that the presence of cue information can eliminate the difference in RT between the 1- and 2-location conditions, whereas no benefit of cue was obtained for the 4-location condition. [source] Evaporative climate change in the British IslesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 9 2008Gerald Stanhill Abstract Evaporation measurements made at 16 sites in the British Isles were analysed for evidence of long-term changes. Half of the series were from sites in Ireland measured with Class A evaporation pans between 1963 and 2005 and half in England and Scotland measured with the British Meteorological Office (MO) sunken evaporation tank between 1885 and 1968. Four of the Irish series showed significant linear trends, three of increasing and one of decreasing evaporation. These significant changes ranged between , 0.1 and + 0.1 mm year,1 equivalent to annual changes between , 0.22 and + 0.15%. Five of the UK series showed statistically significant linear trends, three of them decrease and two increase: These ranged in size between , 3.7 and + 2.1 mm year,1, equivalent to annual changes of , 1.05 to + 0.40% of the mean. Curvilinear time trends accounted for twice the amount of inter-annual variation in evaporation as did the linear trends. Differences in sunshine duration (SD), used as a proxy for global radiation, were found to be the major factor explaining spatial as well as temporal changes in evaporation in the British Isles. The pooled Irish data, expressed as normalized anomalies, showed a small and significant linear increase in evaporation over the last 40 years. Similarly parameterized the UK measurements showed no significant trend up till 1968; the one UK series that did extend till 2004 indicated a marked increase during the last 20 years. The long-term changes found in annual evaporation were similar to those in air temperatures both in Ireland and England. The relevance of these findings to the hypothesis of an acceleration in the hydrological cycle is discussed. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society [source] In vitro human nail penetration and kinetics of panthenolINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE, Issue 4 2007X. Hui Synopsis The in vitro absorption of panthenol into and through the human nail was examined in this study. Panthenol, the alcohol form of pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), is believed to act as a humectant and improve the flexibility and strength of nails. A liquid nail treatment formulated with panthenol (2%) was compared to a solution of panthenol (2%) in water. Fingernail specimens were dosed daily for 7 days with either the nail treatment (non-lacquer film forming) formulation or aqueous solution with sampling performed every 24 h. Panthenol concentrations were determined in the dorsal surface, interior (by drilling and removal) and in the supporting bed under the human nail. Panthenol levels in the dorsal nail (R2 = 0.87; P < 0.001), nail interior (R2 = 0.94; P < 0.001) and nail supporting bed (R2 = 0.79; P < 0.003) showed a significant linear increase with each day of dosing. Significantly more panthenol was delivered into the interior nail and supporting bed by a nail treatment formulation than from an aqueous solution. The film acts not only as a reservoir of panthenol, but also acts to increase the hydration of the nail and the thermodynamic activity of panthenol as well, thereby enhancing diffusion. [source] Use of electron spin resonance measurements on irradiated sperma lentil seeds to indicate accidental irradiationINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 1 2003Mustafa Korkmaz Summary The results of electron spin resonance studies on ,-irradiated micro- and macrosperma lentil seeds are reported. Spectra of non-irradiated intact sperma were composed of an equally spaced sextet originating from the presence of Mn2+ ions and a single weak resonance line. Irradiation produced a linear increase in the radical signal intensity in the radiation dose range (0.5,5 kGy) studied, without affecting the Mn2+ signal. Signal intensities of both sperma followed compound exponential decay curves originating from the presence of three different radical species. Heating the sperma cause irreversible decreases in both radical and Mn2+ signal intensities. Two radical species, described in the present work, and a radical of unknown origin were used to explain the experimental results. [source] The Course of Functional Decline in Older People with Persistently Elevated Depressive Symptoms: Longitudinal Findings from the Cardiovascular Health StudyJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 4 2005Eric J. Lenze MD Objectives: To examine the relationship between persistently high depressive symptoms and long-term changes in functional disability in elderly persons. Design: A community-based, prospective, observational study. Setting: Participant data from the Cardiovascular Health Study. Participants: From the overall sample of 5,888 subjects, three types of participants were identified for this study: (1) persistently depressed individuals, who experienced an onset of depressive symptoms that persisted over 4 years (n=119); (2) temporarily depressed individuals, who experienced an onset of depressive symptoms that resolved over time (n=259); and (3) nondepressed individuals, with persistently low depressive symptoms throughout the follow-up period who were matched on baseline activity of daily living (ADL) scores, sex, and age to the previous two groups combined (n=378). Measurements: Four consecutive years of data were assessed: validated measures of depression (10-item CES-D), functional disability (10-item ADL/instrumental ADL measure), physical performance, medical illness, and cognition. Results: The persistently depressed group showed a greater linear increase in functional disability ratings than the temporarily depressed and nondepressed groups. This association between persistent depression and functional disability was robust even when controlling for baseline demographic and clinical/performance measures, including cognition. The persistently depressed group had an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 5.27 (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.03,9.16) for increased functional disability compared with the nondepressed group over 3 years of follow-up, whereas the temporarily depressed group had an adjusted OR of 2.39 (95% CI=1.55,3.69) compared with the nondepressed group. Conclusion: Persistently elevated depressive symptoms in elderly persons are associated with a steep trajectory of worsening functional disability, generating the hypothesis that treatments for late-life depression need to be assessed on their efficacy in maintaining long-term functional status as well as remission of depressive symptoms. These results also demonstrate the need for studies to differentiate between persistent and temporary depressive symptoms when examining their relationship to disability. [source] Effects of age, breeding experience, mate fidelity and site fidelity on breeding performance in a declining population of Cassin's aukletsJOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY, Issue 6 2001Peter Pyle Summary 1We examined how mate and site fidelity varied with age, experience and sex, and how age, breeding experience, mate experience, site experience and sex affected annual reproductive success and lifetime reproductive output in a declining population of Cassin's auklets (Ptychoramphusaleuticus). Our 276 study birds were 2,14 years of age, recruited at age 2,12 years, and had 0,11 years' breeding experience, 0,8 years' experience with the same mate and 0,11 years' experience in the same nest box. 2Mate fidelity was significantly greater with increasing age in males but not females. There was also a significant negative relationship between mate fidelity and breeding density (as measured by proportion of box occupancy); i.e. the lower the breeding density the higher the incidence of breeding with the same mate. 3Site fidelity showed significant linear and curvilinear increases with age that were significant in females but not males. There was also a significant negative relationship between site fidelity and breeding density; i.e. the lower the breeding density the higher the incidence of breeding at the same site. 4Previous breeding experience had no effect on either mate fidelity or site fidelity, and both mate and site fidelity were significantly lower after a breeding season was skipped. In addition, mate fidelity was significantly lower when a site was switched and vice versa. 5Lifetime reproductive output increased significantly with mate fidelity but showed no relationship with site fidelity. This suggests that fitness is optimized more through mate selection than site selection and that mate fidelity is not a by-product of site fidelity. 6Annual reproductive success showed a significant linear increase with age in males but not females, and a strong parabolic relationship with breeding experience that was significant in both sexes and significantly greater in males than females. 7These results suggest that (i) males may be more responsible for mate selection and females for site selection; (ii) improved foraging experience with age and a cost of reproduction may be more important factors in males than females; and (iii) reproductive success may be optimized by behaviour of the male rather than the female. 8Controlling for the age and experience terms of both parents, experience with a mate had a significant positive linear effect on annual reproductive success. This suggests that mate fidelity is adaptive in Cassin's auklets, and that studies examining the effects of age and experience on reproductive performance should separately consider the duration of the pair bond. 9,Controlling for all other variables, neither experience at a breeding site nor breeding density showed significant correlations with reproductive success. 10,We suggest that reductions in food supply, which correlate with reduced breeding densities, may prevent all but the highest quality breeders (those which have already established a pair bond) from reproducing, and that the increase in quality offsets the reduction in food availability. [source] Modulation of Na+ transport across isolated rumen epithelium by short-chain fatty acids in hay- and concentrate-fed sheepJOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 11-12 2003S. K. Uppal Summary The effect of increasing concentrations of short-chain fatty acids [SCFA; mixture of the Na+ salts of acetic acid (62.5%), propionic acid (25.0%) and of butyric acid (12.5%)] on Na+ transport of sheep rumen epithelium was studied in vitro. The conventional Ussing chamber method was used for measuring Na+ transport rates (22Na+), short-circuit current (Isc) and tissue conductance (GT) of isolated rumen epithelium. SCFA in the buffer solution on the mucosal side caused a linear increase of Jnet Na+ from 1.14, to 1.22, 1.78 and 2.50 ,eq/cm2/h in hay-fed sheep at 0, 15, 40 and 80 mmol/l SCFA, respectively. In a second study, the effect of higher SCFA concentrations [0 (control), 80, 100 and 120 mmol/l] was investigated with epithelia from two groups of sheep. One group was subjected to hay ad libitum, whereas the other received concentrate feed (800 g/day in equal portions at 7.00 am and 3.00 pm) and hay ad libitum. Epithelia from concentrate-fed sheep again showed a significant (p < 0.05) and linear increase in Jnet Na+ at 80, 100 and 120 mmol/l. However, in hay-fed sheep, the difference in increase among 80, 100 and 120 mmol/l SCFA was not significant, indicating that, above 80 mmol/l SCFA Jms and Jnet exhibit saturation. Moreover, Na+ fluxes (Jms and Jnet) were generally higher in concentrate-fed than in hay-fed sheep at all SCFA concentrations and significant differences were observed at 100 and 120 mmol/l SCFA. The obtained results confirm the effect of SCFA on Na+ transport and are in agreement with studies regarding feeding regimes and electrolyte transport in the rumen. The important new observation is the increase of Na+ transport in concentrate-fed sheep even at high concentrations of SCFA (100 and 120 mmol/l). The enhanced activity of the Na+/H+ exchanger at these SCFA concentrations supports the assumption that the capacity for regulating the intracellular pH by extrusion of protons is increased, suggesting an adaptation in concentrate-fed sheep. This adaptation could prevent possible disturbances of epithelial functions (transport and barrier) under conditions of increased SCFA absorption. [source] The effect of short chain fatty acids on calcium flux rates across isolated rumen epithelium of hay-fed and concentrate-fed sheepJOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 1-2 2003S. K. Uppal Summary The present in vitro experiment was conducted to study the effect of two concentrations of short chain fatty acids [SCFA: 0 (control), 40 and 100 mmol/l in the buffer solution on mucosal side] on calcium ion (Ca2+) transport across the isolated rumen epithelium of two groups of sheep. One group was subjected to hay ad libitum, whereas the other to concentrate feed (800 g per day in equal portion at 7.00 and 15.00 hours and hay ad lib). The conventional Ussing chamber method was used for measuring the Ca2+ transport rates (45Ca), short-circuit current (Isc) and tissue conductance (GT) of isolated rumen epithelium. The SCFA significantly increased Isc of the epithelia of concentrate-fed sheep. In both hay- and concentrate-fed animals, 45Ca flux rates showed an almost linear increase in net flux rate () with rising concentrations of SCFA, as a result of a combined effect of a large increase in mucosal-to-serosal flux rates () and an almost linear, but small, decrease in serosal-to-mucosal flux rate (). In concentrate-fed sheep and were significantly higher in tissues incubated with SCFA compared with hay-fed animals. The well-known adaptable morphological and functional changes in the rumen epithelium attributable to concentrate feeding obviously include Ca2+ transport; such feeding therefore may be considered as a possible prophylactic measure in the prevention of milk fever. [source] Structure,properties relations of the drawn poly(ethylene terephthalate) filament sewing threadJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 5 2008Andreja Rudolf Abstract This article presents research into draw ratio influence on the structure,properties relationship of drawn PET filament threads. Structural modification influence due to the drawing conditions, i.e., the birefringence and filament crystallinity, on the mechanical properties was investigated, as well as the shrinkage and dynamic mechanical properties of the drawn threads. Increasing draw ratio causes a linear increase in the birefringence, degree of crystallinity, filament shrinkage, and a decrease in the loss modulus. In addition, loss tangent and glass transition temperature, determined at the loss modulus peak, were increased by drawing. The observed structural changes influence the thread's mechanical properties, i.e., the breaking tenacity, elasticity modulus, and tension at the yield point increase, while breaking extension decreases by a higher draw ratio. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008 [source] Intrathecal neostigmine with bupivacaine for infants undergoing lower abdominal and urogenital procedures: dose responseACTA ANAESTHESIOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 4 2009Y. K. BATRA Background: Intrathecal (IT) neostigmine produces dose-dependent analgesia in adults. However, the dose of spinal neostigmine has not been investigated in infants. The purpose of this study was to assess spinal anesthesia (SA) duration provided by four doses of spinal neostigmine added to bupivacaine for lower abdominal and urogenital procedures in infants. Methods: Seventy-five infants were randomized into five groups. The control group B received IT plain 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine. Groups BN.25, BN.50, BN.75, and BN1.0 received bupivacaine with 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 ,g/kg of neostigmine, respectively. The primary variable was the duration of anesthesia assessed by recovery of hip flexion. Postoperative pain with facial expression, leg activity, arm activity, crying and consolability scale score,and rescue analgesic requirements were the secondary variables measured, and the side effects were noted. Results: Seventy-three infants completed the study. There was a significant linear increase in SA duration with IT neostigmine to 65.2 (4.3) min with 0.5 ,g/kg (P<0.01), 88.2 (5.1) with 0.75 ,g/kg (P<0.001) and 92 (4.3) with 1 ,g/kg (P<0.001) from 52.4 (4.3) min with bupivacaine alone. SA duration showed no significant difference between plain bupivacaine and BN.25 (P=0.100) or between groups BN.75 and BN1.0 (P=0.451). Groups BN.75 and BN1.0 had significantly reduced pain scores, and the median duration before the first dose rescue analgesic was requested prolonged significantly (P<0.001) compared with the other three groups. Conclusions: IT neostigmine at a dose of 0.75 ,g/kg added to bupivacaine significantly prolonged SA duration with reduced postoperative pain scores and rescue analgesic requirements in infants undergoing lower abdominal and urogenital procedures. No additional benefits were provided on increasing it to 1 ,g/kg. [source] Dissolution of artemisinin/polymer composite nanoparticles fabricated by evaporative precipitation of nanosuspensionJOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 4 2010Mitali Kakran Abstract Objectives An evaporative precipitation of nanosuspension (EPN) method was used to fabricate composite particles of a poorly water-soluble antimalarial drug, artemisinin, with a hydrophilic polymer, polyethylene glycol (PEG), with the aim of enhancing the dissolution rate of artemisinin. We investigated the effect of polymer concentration on the physical, morphological and dissolution properties of the EPN-prepared artemisinin/PEG composites. Methods The original artemisinin powder, EPN-prepared artemisinin nanoparticles and artemisinin/PEG composites were characterised by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), dissolution testing and HPLC. The percentage dissolution efficiency, relative dissolution, time to 75% dissolution and mean dissolution time were calculated. The experimental drug dissolution data were fitted to various mathematical models (Weibull, first-order, Korsemeyer,Peppas, Hixson,Crowell cube root and Higuchi models) in order to analyse the release mechanism. Key findings The DSC and XRD studies suggest that the crystallinity of the EPN-prepared artemisinin decreased with increasing polymer concentration. The phase-solubility studies revealed an AL -type curve, indicating a linear increase in drug solubility with PEG concentration. The dissolution rate of the EPN-prepared artemisinin and artemisinin/PEG composites increased markedly compared with the original artemisinin powder. Conclusions EPN can be used to prepare artemisinin nanoparticles and artemisinin/PEG composite particles that have a significantly enhanced dissolution rate. The mechanism of drug release involved diffusion and erosion. [source] Supramolecular catalysis induced by polysaccharides.JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 8 2003Homogeneous hydrolysis of p -nitrobenzyl amylose xanthate Abstract p -Nitrobenzyl amylose xanthate (AmXNB) was synthesized and characterized by 13C NMR spectroscopy in solution and the solid state. The degree of substitution (DS), calculated from the sulfur content, was 7.0, and this value was similar to that obtained from solid-state 13C NMR using the signal of C-1 as internal standard. The hydrolysis of AmXNB was studied in 10% (v/v) DMSO with,µ,=,0.5 (KCl) at 25,°C. The basic hydrolysis was pseudo-first order, but the water-catalyzed hydrolysis in the pH range 7,9 showed a biphasic plot of ln (,Absorbance) vs time, as has been observed for cellulose xanthate esters, occurring through two parallel reactions with rate constants k,H2O (fast),=,5.3,×,10,5 s,1 and k,H2O (slow),=,3.3,×,10,6 s,1. The fast hydrolysis was more than three orders of magnitude faster than that of the O -ethyl analog. The activation parameters were ,H,,=,20.5,kcal,mol,1 and ,S,,=,+10 cal K,1,mol,1. They showed that the acceleration of the fast hydrolysis of AmXNB and cellulose analogs is due to an entropy of activation effect. There is a linear increase of logk,H2O (fast) with increase in the concentration of the small Li+ ion that produces an increase of the 3-D hydrogen-bond network of water while the large singly charged iodide ion has a considerable inverse effect. These results are strongly consistent with the theory that the supramolecular catalysis induced by modified polysaccharide esters is due to the 3-D hydrogen-bond network of the water in the solvation shell. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||