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Appreciable Differences (appreciable + difference)
Selected AbstractsDifferential Localization of Immunoreactive ,- and ,-subunits of S-100 Protein in Feline TestisANATOMIA, HISTOLOGIA, EMBRYOLOGIA, Issue 2 2000B. C. Cruzana This study investigates the differential localization of the ,- subunit (S100-,) and the ,-subunit (S100-,) of the S-100 protein in the feline testis, using immunohistochemistry with polyclonal antibodies to bovine S-100 protein (S-100) and monoclonal antibodies to bovine S100-, and S100-,. Appreciable differences were observed in the cellular localization of the immunoreactivity of each subunit. S-100 was observed in the Sertoli cells, the epithelial cells of the transitional segment of the seminiferous tubules, Leydig cells and the peritubular cells of the seminiferous tubules, but was not observed in the epithelial cells of straight tubules and the rete testis or in the endothelial cells of blood and lymph vessels. S100-, immunoreactivity was localized in Sertoli cells, peritubular cells and the epithelial cells of the terminal segment of the tubules, whereas S100-, immunoreactivity was localized in Leydig cells. The differential localization of the ,- and ,-subunits of the S-100 protein in the feline testis suggests that this protein is multifunctional and be useful as an investigative tool in studying feline testis function. [source] ORIGINAL INVESTIGATIONS: Tissue Harmonic Imaging in Echocardiography: Better Valve Imaging, But at What Cost?ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Issue 2 2008Karin Hawkins M.D. Background: Tissue harmonic imaging (THI) improves echocardiographic image quality and is widely utilized. Unfortunately it also makes structures appear artificially thickened. We sought to examine its impact on the imaging of left-sided heart valves. Methods: A large echocardiographic database was searched for full, standard transthoracic echocardiographic exams performed 12-month periods before (n = 3,786) and after (n = 3,914) transition to THI at a single institution. Patients with prosthetic valves were excluded. Results: The mean age of patients was 63 ± 17 years and 65% were men. No appreciable difference in demographics was observed between time periods. While inadequate visualization of the mitral valve was reduced by 30% using THI (P = 0.014), reports of leaflet thickening increased by 28% (P = 0.005). Similarly, inadequate aortic valve visualization was reduced by 53% with THI (P < 0.001), at the expense of more aortic sclerosis (+6%, P = 0.034). Among the 480 patients with echocardiograms using each modality (time interval between studies: 370 ± 143 days), THI did not appreciably improve visualization of the either valve. Although no significant increase in mitral thickness was seen with THI, aortic sclerosis was increased by at least one grade in 24.5% (P < 0.006). Conclusion: This study suggests that while THI enhances imaging of difficult to visualize valves, it may overestimate mitral and aortic valve thickness. This could lead to overdiagnosis and unnecessary follow-up studies. Cardiologists interpreting THI echocardiograms should become familiar with the modality's shortcomings. [source] Evaluation of broad scale vertical circulation and thermal indices in relation to the onset of Indian summer monsoonINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2002S. K. Roy Bhowmik Abstract The onset of the Indian summer monsoon over Kerala for an individual year of delayed (1997), early (1999) and normal onset (2000) was examined in relation to the intensity of vertical circulation and thermal indices during the pre-monsoon months (April and May). The study showed that in the delayed monsoon onset year (1997) negative anomalies of vertical zonal index dominated over the north Indian Ocean during pre-monsoon months, particularly in April. In contrast, in the early onset year (1999) the positive anomalies of this index over the north Indian Ocean during the pre-monsoon months were considerably stronger (April and May). However, the meridional vertical index did not show any appreciable difference. The gradient of the vertical thermal index anomalies over the Tibetan Plateau in the month of April was prominently stronger during the years of early and normal onset (1999 and 2000). The anomalies of geopotential height at 200 hPa over the Tibetan Plateau in the pre-monsoon months were significantly lower in the year of delayed onset (1997). The precipitable water content was found to be another major feature, which grew rapidly over the equatorial belt of the Indian Ocean extending up to the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal during the two weeks prior to onset. Most of these features were observed very distinctly in the month of April, well before the monsoon onset, and promise to provide important predictive signals for the onset over Kerala. Copyright © 2002 Royal Meteorological Society. [source] Restoring depleted coral-reef fish populations through recruitment enhancement: a proof of conceptJOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 7 2009A. Heenan To determine whether enhancing the survival of new recruits is a sensible target for the restorative management of depleted coral-reef fish populations, settlement-stage ambon damsel fish Pomacentrus amboinensis were captured, tagged and then either released immediately onto small artificial reefs or held in aquaria for 1 week prior to release. Holding conditions were varied to determine whether they affected survival of fish: half the fish were held in bare tanks (non-enriched) and the other half in tanks containing coral and sand (enriched). Holding fish for this short period had a significantly positive effect on survivorship relative to the settlement-stage treatment group that were released immediately. The enrichment of holding conditions made no appreciable difference on the survival of fish once released onto the reef. It did, however, have a positive effect on the survival of fish while in captivity, thus supporting the case for the provision of simple environmental enrichment in fish husbandry. Collecting and holding settlement-stage fish for at least a week before release appear to increase the short-term survival of released fish; whether it is an effective method for longer-term enhancement of locally depleted coral-reef fish populations will require further study. [source] Parallel and antiparallel dimers of magainin 2: their interaction with phospholipid membrane and antibacterial activityJOURNAL OF PEPTIDE SCIENCE, Issue 10 2002Yasuhiro Mukai Abstract Magainin 2 (M2) forms pores by associating with several other M2 molecules in lipid membranes and shows antibacterial activity. To examine the effect of M2 dimerization on biological activity and membrane interaction, parallel and antiparallel M2 dimers were prepared from two monomeric precursors. Antibacterial and haemolytic activities were enhanced by dimerization. CD measurements showed that both dimers and monomers have an ,-helical structure in the presence of lipid vesicles. Tryptophan fluorescence shift and KI quenching studies showed that all the peptides were more deeply embedded in acidic liposomes than in neutral liposomes. Experiments on dye-leakage activity and membrane translocation of peptides suggest that dimers and monomers form pores through lipid membranes, although the pore formation may be accompanied by membrane disturbance. Although dimerization of M2 increased the interaction activity with lipid membranes, no appreciable difference between the activities of parallel and antiparallel M2 dimers was observed. Copyright © 2002 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Age-dependent changes in tolerance to cold and accumulation of cryoprotectants in overwintering and non-overwintering larvae of European corn borer Ostrinia nubilalisPHYSIOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 4 2008STEFANOS S. ANDREADIS Abstract The age-dependent cold hardiness profile of Ostrinia nubilalis is compared between nondiapausing and diapausing larvae, as well as with field-collected larvae. The results suggest that both cold tolerance and accumulation of cryoprotectants depends upon the age of O. nubilalis larva. Late fifth-instar nondiapausing larvae are more cold tolerant than younger fifth-instars because they show enhanced ability to withstand sub-zero temperatures. No appreciable difference is observed between the experimental groups of diapausing larvae as far as their supercooling ability and tolerance at sub-zero temperatures above the supercooling point. In general, both field-collected and diapausing larvae are more cold tolerant than nondiapausing larvae, indicating a direct link between diapause and cold hardiness. The age of diapausing larvae affects the ability to accumulate glycerol. Glycerol levels of 45-day-old diapausing larvae are significantly higher (2.7-fold) compared with 90-day-old diapausing larvae. Moreover, diapausing larvae display a five- to 13-fold higher glycerol content compared with nondiapausing larvae. There is a trend for an age-dependent cold hardiness profile in O. nubilalis and further tests that could demonstrate a causal relationship between age and cold tolerance are needed. [source] An epidemiological study of renal pathology in tuberous sclerosis complexBJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 6 2004Finbar J. O'Callaghan OBJECTIVES To report the frequency of renal symptoms and complications of patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), to describe the ultrasonographic appearance of the kidneys in a population-based sample, and to investigate the relationship between a history of renal haemorrhage and renal lesions identified by ultrasonography. PATIENTS AND METHODS As part of an epidemiological study, 179 patients with TSC were identified as living in the Wessex Region in the South of England. Patients were interviewed and examined in their homes, to elicit the presence of renal symptoms or a history of renal complications. Renal ultrasonography was used in consenting patients in their homes. RESULTS There was a history of renal complications in 16 (9%) patients; 149 consented to interview and examination, and 19 gave a history of renal symptoms in the previous year; 124 had renal ultrasonography; 86 (69%) had renal angiomyolipomas and 37 (30%) had renal cysts. Large lesions (>3 cm in diameter) were strongly associated with a history of symptomatic bleeding, although significant haemorrhage occurred in a 6-year-old child with small angiomyolipomas. CONCLUSIONS The formation of angiomyolipoma in TSC is common. Polycystic kidney disease, renal carcinoma and renal failure, although rare, occur in TSC. Most patients with angiomyolipomas have neither complications nor symptoms. There was no appreciable difference between the sexes in the risk of developing these lesions. Although less commonly seen in the very young, there is no identifiable relationship after adolescence between age and the risk of having a renal angiomyolipoma. Bleeding tends to occur from large lesions (>3 cm) but most such patients have remained asymptomatic to date. [source] Relative importance of microhabitat, plant form and photosynthetic physiology to carbon gain in two alpine herbsFUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2001M. J. Germino Abstract 1.,The effects of microhabitat and plant form on sunlight interception, leaf temperatures, frost occurrence and photosynthesis were evaluated for Caltha leptosepala DC and Erythronium grandiflorum Pursh. Both plants are perennials that commonly emerge from alpine snowbanks where the combination of cool temperatures and strong sunlight is among the most extreme for vascular plants. 2., Caltha leptosepala occurred in microsites where colder air accumulates, and has larger, less inclined and more densely clustered leaves compared to E. grandiflorum (which has two steeply inclined leaves). 3.,These differences in microsite and plant form led to leaf temperatures below 0 °C on 70% of nights during the summer growth season in C. leptosepala, compared to only 38% in E. grandiflorum. Leaves of C. leptosepala warmed more slowly on mornings following frosts compared to E. grandiflorum, due to less aerodynamic coupling between leaf and air temperature, and also a 45% smaller ratio of sunlit to total leaf area due to mutual shading among leaves. 4.,As a result, night frost did not affect subsequent CO2 assimilation (A) in E. grandiflorum, while frostless nights and warmer mornings led to 35% greater A in C. leptosepala in the early morning. 5.,There were no appreciable differences in the temperature and light response of photosynthesis between the two species. The apparent quantum yield of A declined only ,8% in both species following frost and exposure to strong sunlight, indicating little adjustment of photosynthetic physiology. 6.,Greater daily carbon gain probably occurs for E. grandiflorum because of its plant form and microclimate, rather than differences in photosynthetic physiology. [source] Global atmospheric energetics from NCEP,Reanalysis 2 and ECMWF,ERA40 ReanalysisINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2009Carlos A. F. Marques Abstract The global atmospheric energy cycle is estimated on an annual basis using Reanalysis 2 data from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction and National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR), and ERA 40 Reanalyses from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) for the period 1979,2001. A formalism to avoid belowground data on pressure levels intercepted by topography is adopted. No appreciable differences were found between the two datasets from the energetics point of view. The so-called ,, and v·grad z formulations were both used for the conversions from zonal available potential energy into zonal kinetic energy (CZ) and from eddy available potential energy into eddy kinetic energy (CE). Results with both formulations are comparable only when using the formalism preventing belowground data to enter into the computations. Atmospheric energetics are also computed using ECMWF Reanalyses for the period 1958,1978. A significant increase was found in the eddy kinetic and eddy available potential energies from the early period to the later period, likely related to the assimilation in the reanalyses of satellite data after 1979. The conversion rate, CZ, was found to change its sign throughout the years. The atmospheric energy cycle using the ECMWF Reanalyses data is compared with five previous estimates. Differences in the direction of the conversion rate, CZ, between the various estimates may be explained by the different time periods chosen for averaging. Owing to the omission of belowground data, the conversion from zonal available potential energy into eddy available potential energy (CA) was somewhat smaller in ECMWF Reanalyses than in the previous estimates. Despite those differences, an overall agreement may be found between the various estimates for the atmospheric energy cycle. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society [source] Effect of Compromised Cortical Bone on Implant Load DistributionJOURNAL OF PROSTHODONTICS, Issue 8 2008vanç Akça DDS Abstract Purpose: To investigate photoelastically the difference in load distribution of dental implants with different implant neck designs in intact and compromised bone. Materials and Methods: Composite photoelastic models were fabricated using two different resins to simulate trabecular bone and a 1-mm thick layer of cortical bone. The following parallel-sided, threaded implants were centrally located in individual models representing intact and compromised cortical bone: Straumann (4.1-mm diameter × 12-mm length), AstraTech (4.0-mm diameter × 13-mm length), and 3i (3.75-mm diameter × 13-mm length). The compromised cortical bone condition was simulated by contaminating a 1-mm neck portion with Vaseline to impair the implant,resin interface. Vertical and oblique static loads were applied on the abutments, and the resulting stresses were monitored photoelastically and recorded photograhphically. Results: For the fully intact condition, the highest stresses were observed around the crest and apical region for all implant designs under vertical and inclined loads. There were no appreciable differences in magnitude or distribution between implant types. With compromised cortical bone, for all designs and load directions, higher stresses in the supporting structures were observed. Increased stresses were noted especially at the cortical bone,trabecular bone interface. Somewhat lower stress levels were observed with the 3i implant. Conclusions: The condition of implant,cortical bone contact has considerable influence on stress distribution. A compromised cortical bone condition caused higher level stresses for all implant designs tested. [source] Influence of Age at Drinking Onset on Long-Term Ethanol Self-Administration With Deprivation and Stress PhasesALCOHOLISM, Issue 7 2005Sören Siegmund Background: Onset of alcohol use during adolescence has potentially long-lasting consequences, e.g., prospective alcohol dependence. To obtain new insight into the effects of early chronic ethanol consumption, we compared the drinking behavior of two adult male Wistar rat groups: one that initiated alcohol consumption during adolescence (adolescent group) and the other that initiated their drinking during adulthood (adult group) in a model of long-term alcohol self-administration. We investigated the magnitude of the effects of deprivation and stress on alcohol intake and the influence of these events on the alcohol drinking behavior across time. Methods: Heterogeneous Wistar rats aged 31 days (adolescents) and 71 days (adults) were given ad libitum access to water, as well as 5% and 20% ethanol solutions during an observation period of 30 wk. A deprivation phase of 14 days was instituted after eight wk of access to alcohol. After 16 and 26 wk of alcohol access, all animals were subjected for three consecutive days to forced swimming and electric foot shocks, respectively. Results: At the onset of drinking, adolescent animals consumed less alcohol and showed lower preference than adults. The deprivation phase was followed by increased intake of highly concentrated ethanol solution without appreciable differences between age groups. Repeated swim stress produced a slight increase in ethanol consumption in both animal groups; however, alcohol intake was not significantly different between groups, whereas the foot shock stress-induced increase in alcohol intake was significantly higher in the animal group that initiated alcohol consumption during adolescence. After swim stress, the drinking behavior of the adolescent group resembled that of the adult group. In particular, the adolescent group increased their preference for 20% ethanol solution for the remainder of the experiment. Conclusions: Age of voluntary alcohol drinking onset does not appear to be a strong predictor for prospective alcohol intake and relapse-like drinking behavior under the present experimental conditions. However, male Wistar rats that initiated alcohol consumption during adolescence seem to be more susceptible to acute stressor-specific effects in terms of alcohol consumption. [source] Leaf growth and turgor in growing cells of maize (Zea mays L.) respond to evaporative demand under moderate irrigation but not in water-saturated soilPLANT CELL & ENVIRONMENT, Issue 6 2006OUMAYA BOUCHABKÉ ABSTRACT To test whether the inhibition of leaf expansion by high evaporative demand is a result of hydraulic processes, we have followed both leaf elongation rate (LER) and cell turgor in leaves of maize plants either normally watered or in water-saturated soil in which hydraulic resistance at the soil,root interface was abolished. Cell turgor was measured in situ with a pressure probe in the elongating zone of the first and sixth leaves, and LERs of the same leaves were measured continuously with transducers or by following displacements of marks along the growing leaves. Both variables displayed spatial variations along the leaf and positively correlated within the elongating zone. Values peaked at mid-distance of this zone, where the response of turgor to evaporative demand was further dissected. High evaporative demand decreased both LER and turgor for at least 5 h, with dose-effect linear relations. This was observed in five genotypes with appreciable differences in turgor maintenance among genotypes. In contrast, the depressing effects of evaporative demand on both turgor and LER disappeared when the soil was saturated, thereby opposing a negligible resistance to water flow at the soil,root interface. These results suggest that the response of LER to evaporative demand has a hydraulic origin, enhanced by the resistance to water flux at the soil,root interface. They also suggest that turgor is not completely maintained under high evaporative demand, and may therefore contribute to the reductions in LER observed in non-saturated soils. [source] Religiosity, spirituality, and psychological distress in African-Americans at risk for having a hereditary cancer predisposing gene mutation,AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS, Issue 1 2009Anita Y. Kinney Abstract Elevated psychological distress has been observed among people at increased risk for familial cancer. Researchers consider religiosity and spirituality (RS) to be positive coping mechanisms associated with reduced psychological distress. Relatively little is known about the impact of RS on genomic health issues. The objectives of our study were: (1) describe the prevalence of RS and depressive symptoms and (2) explore how RS relates to psychological distress in a cohort of individuals with a ,25% prior probability of a genetic predisposition to cancer. Participants (n,=,99) were drawn from an African-American, Louisiana-based kindred with a mutation at the BRCA1 locus. This analysis reports findings from a survey assessing RS and the use of three types of religious coping styles: collaborative, self-directing, and deferring. Clinically significant depressive symptoms were relatively high (27%); with females (33%) more likely than males (17%) to report symptoms (P,<,0.01). The majority of participants reported being highly religious. The most commonly employed religious problem solving style used by participants was collaborative (; SD,=,5.8) versus self-directing (; SD,=,5.1) and deferring (; SD,=,6.3). We did not observe significant associations between RS indicators and psychological distress, nor did we observe appreciable differences related to gender or risk perception. Although RS beliefs and practices are important for many African-Americans, we did not find evidence that indicators of self-reported RS are associated with psychological distress prior to genetic counseling and testing. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Baboon vaginal microbiota: an overlooked aspect of primate physiologyAMERICAN JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2010Angel J. Rivera Abstract The bacterial population of the primate vaginal canal is an infant primate's first exposure to the microbial population inhabiting the outside world. Yet, little is known about this population and the effect it might have on the development and survival of the infant primate. As a first step toward characterizing the vaginal microbiota of a nonhuman primate, we used denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis to evaluate variations in the vaginal microbiota of a group of 35 baboons (Papio hamadryas), which were housed in a facility where they shared the same diet and the same environmental conditions. We found that, despite the uniform environment, there were appreciable differences in the composition of the microbiota from one individual to another. Our results also indicate that a simple swab test is sufficient for sampling the vaginal microbiota in the field, a finding that should help make more detailed characterization of the microbiota of wild primates feasible in the future. Am. J. Primatol. 72:467,474, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] | ||||||||||||||||