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SH
Kinds of SH Terms modified by SH Selected AbstractsA large-scale monitoring and measurement campaign for web services-based applicationsCONCURRENCY AND COMPUTATION: PRACTICE & EXPERIENCE, Issue 10 2010Riadh Ben Halima Abstract Web Services (WS) can be considered as the most influent enabling technology for the next generation of web applications. WS-based application providers will face challenging features related to nonfunctional properties in general and to performance and QoS in particular. Moreover, WS-based developers have to provide solutions to extend such applications with self-healing (SH) mechanisms as required for autonomic computing to face the complexity of interactions and to improve availability. Such solutions should be applicable when the components implementing SH mechanisms are deployed on both or only one platform on the WS providers and requesters sides depending on the deployment constraints. Associating application-specific performance requirements and monitoring-specific constraints will lead to complex configurations where fine tuning is needed to provide SH solutions. To contribute to enhancing the design and the assessment of such solutions for WS technology, we designed and implemented a monitoring and measurement framework, which is part of a larger Self-Healing Architectures (SHA) developed during the European WS-DIAMOND project. We implemented the Conference Management System (CMS), a real WS-based complex application. We achieved a large-scale experimentation campaign by deploying CMS on top of SHA on the French grid Grid5000. We experienced the problem as if we were a service provider who has to tune reconfiguration strategies. Our results are available on the web in a structured database for external use by the WS community. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A multicentre investigation into the role of structured histories for patients with tooth avulsion at their initial visit to a dental hospitalDENTAL TRAUMATOLOGY, Issue 5 2003Peter F. Day Abstract ,,,A paper structured history (SH) is a sheet, which prompts or reminds the clinician to ask various important questions. The aim of this study was to examine avulsion cases with respect to the quality of clinical records. Hospitals studied used either a paper SH or had no specific structure in their recording of avulsion details, e.g. unstructured histories (USH). The most important prognostic items that should be recorded for avulsion cases at their first visit were identified by reviewing the literature. Clinical case records meeting strict inclusion criteria were retrospectively analyzed against 10 important prognostic items. Forty-seven patient records were identified in the SH group compared to 43 patient records in the USH group. Using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests, the SH group were significantly better at recording the following: accident details (P < 0.001), loss of consciousness (P < 0.001), other teeth or tooth injuries (P < 0.05), extra-alveolar mediums (P < 0.01), total extra-alveolar time (P < 0.001), antibiotics given at time of injury (P < 0.05) and apical maturity (P < 0.001). In all the dental hospitals selected, two-thirds of the case records were completed by junior dentists not in specialist training and the improvement in history when using an SH form was most pronounced in these groups. It is concluded, therefore, that an SH should be taken for cases of avulsion as it was significantly better at collecting essential prognostic information. [source] Severe hypoglycaemia during pregnancy in women with Type 1 diabetes is common and planning pregnancy does not decrease the riskDIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 8 2009H. Robertson Abstract Aims, The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for severe hypoglycaemia (SH) in pregnancy in Type 1 diabetes, including associations with pregnancy planning and glycaemic control. Methods, Clinical data including details of the pregnancy and its outcome, glycaemic control, frequency of SH and evidence of pregnancy planning were collected prospectively as part of a national audit of 160 pregnancies in women with Type 1 diabetes. Results, An episode of SH was experienced by 29.4% of women at some point during the pregnancy, with the percentage of women experiencing SH decreasing from 21.9% in the first trimester to 18.1% in trimester 2 and 10.9% in trimester 3. Longer duration of diabetes was associated with increased frequency of SH during pregnancy (r = 0.191, P = 0.012). A greater fall in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) between pre-pregnancy and the first trimester was not associated with increased risk of SH in trimester 1. Planned pregnancies had better glycaemic control but higher risk of SH in trimester 1 (P = 0.047). Women with pre-pregnancy retinopathy and current smokers had an increased risk of SH in trimester 3 (P = 0.029, P = 0.033). Conclusions, SH is common during pregnancy and particularly in the first trimester. Planning pregnancy does not decrease the risk of SH. Improvements in glycaemic control at the start of pregnancy do not appear to increase the risk of SH. Education of women and their partners about the risks of SH and its management is essential when planning pregnancy. [source] Flexible, intensive insulin therapy and dietary freedom in adolescents and young adults with Type 1 diabetes: a prospective implementation studyDIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 5 2008A. Sämann Abstract Aims To assess the outcome of a Diabetes Treatment and Teaching Programme (DTTP) on glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), severe hypoglycaemia (SH) and severe ketoacidosis (SKA) in adolescents and young adults with Type 1 diabetes. Methods Quality-assurance project with assessment of participants 1 year after participation in a DTTP (5-day inpatient course, groups , 10 patients, fixed curriculum of education/training, introduction of dietary freedom). Before,after analyses of participants aged 12,15, 15,18, 18,21 and 21,24 years. Main outcome measures were HbA1c, SH and SKA. Results For the 1592 participants, aged 12 to 24 years, mean age at enrolment was 19 ± 3 years, mean duration of diabetes was 7.3 ± 5.4 (range 0.3,24) years, mean baseline HbA1c declined from 8.8 ± 2.3% to 8.1 ± 2.0%. The incidence of SH was 0.31 vs. 0.11 events/patient/year; the incidence of SKA 0.17 vs. 0.07 events/patient/year. In mixed effects models taking into account effects of centres, age and diabetes duration, the mean difference was ,0.64%[P < 0.001, 95% confidence interval (CI) ,0.79 to ,0.5] for HbA1c, ,0.2 events/patient/year (P < 0.0001, 95% CI ,0.28 to ,0.12) for SH and ,0.1 events/patient/year (P < 0.0001, 95% CI ,0.14 to ,0.06) for SKA. Conclusions Adolescents and young adults with Type 1 diabetes benefit from participation in a standard DTTP for flexible, intensive insulin therapy and dietary freedom. [source] Serum angiotensin-converting enzyme and frequency of severe hypoglycaemia in Type 1 diabetes: does a relationship exist?DIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 12 2007N. N. Zammitt Abstract Aims An association has been described between elevated serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and an increased risk of severe hypoglycaemia (SH). To ascertain whether this reported association could be replicated in a different country, it was re-examined in 300 individuals with Type 1 diabetes. Methods People with Type 1 diabetes, none of whom was taking renin,angiotensin system blocking drugs, were recruited. Participants recorded the frequency with which they had experienced SH. Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and serum ACE were measured. The difference in the incidence of SH between different quartiles of ACE activity and the relationship between serum ACE and SH were examined using non-parametric statistical tests and a negative binomial model. Results Data were obtained from 300 patients [158 male; HbA1c median (range) 8.2% (5.2,12.8%), median age 36 years (16,88); duration of diabetes 14.5 years (2,49)]. The incidence of SH was 0.93 episodes per patient year. The mean incidence of SH in the top and bottom quartiles of ACE activity was 0.5 and 1.7 episodes per patient year, respectively, but this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.075). Spearman's test showed a very weak, although statistically significant, association between serum ACE level and SH incidence (r = 0.115, P = 0.047). The binomial model also showed a statistically significant (P = 0.002), but clinically weak, relationship between serum ACE and SH. Conclusions The present survey showed a weak relationship between serum ACE and the frequency of SH, the clinical relevance of which is unclear. This limits the proposed role for serum ACE as an index of risk for SH. [source] Soil,pile,structure interaction under SH wave excitationEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 3 2003K. K. Koo Abstract A continuum model for the interaction analysis of a fully coupled soil,pile,structure system under seismic excitation is presented in this paper. Only horizontal shaking induced by harmonic SH waves is considered so that the soil,pile,structure system is under anti-plane deformation. The soil mass, pile and superstructure were all considered as elastic with hysteretic damping, while geometrically both pile and structures were simplified as a beam model. Buildings of various heights in Hong Kong designed to resist wind load were analysed using the present model. It was discovered that the acceleration of the piled-structures at ground level can, in general, be larger than that of a free-field shaking of the soil site, depending on the excitation frequency. For typical piled-structures in Hong Kong, the amplification factor of shaking at the ground level does not show simple trends with the number of storeys of the superstructure, the thickness and the stiffness of soil, and the stiffness of the superstructure if number of storeys is fixed. The effect of pile stiffness on the amplification factor of shaking is, however, insignificant. Thus, simply increasing the pile size or the superstructure stiffness does not necessarily improve the seismic resistance of the soil,pile,structure system; on the contrary, it may lead to excessive amplification of shaking for the whole system. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Transitions of serum albumin in patients with glomerulosclerosis ,in vivo' characterization by electrophoretic titration curvesELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 14 2006Maurizio Bruschi Abstract HSA functions as a physiological transporter of solutes and small molecules that induce structural transitions ,in vitro'. Analysis of these transitions requires prior purification of HSA that could introduce bias due to conformational changes. We utilized electrophoretic titration curves to describe a neutral to acid (N,A) transition of HSA directly in sera of seven patients with active focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). The divergent electrophoretic profile of HSA was characterized by a shift in the range of pHs between 4.5 and 7.5 with an average variation of free electrophoretic mobility corresponding to loss of 1 positive charge in the pKa protonation range of histidyl residues and should involve domain I of HSA. ,In-gel' determination by maleimide-PEO2-biotin of free SH 34 of domain I showed inaccessibility of the dye at this site in pathological HSA and alkylation with the same complex induced N,A transition in normal HSA. Potential binders of free imidazoles such as Ca++ and/or of SH 34 such as NO were excluded on the basis of direct titration and studies on binding stimulation. This is the first report describing a transition of HSA directly ,in vivo', and the utilization of electrophoretic titration curves was critical to this purpose. This transition appears to be specific to FSGS and is unrelated to the nephrotic syndrome, Ca++ and NO binding. Spectroscopic analysis will elucidate the structural implication. [source] Cadmium induced oxidative stress influence on glutathione metabolic genes of Camellia sinensis (L.) O. KuntzeENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 4 2007Prashant Mohanpuria Abstract Glutathione, a tripeptide with sulfhydryl (-SH) group is a very crucial compound primarily involved in redox balance maintenance of the cellular environment. In this study, we monitored the influence of Cd exposure on the transcript levels of glutathione metabolic genes in bud tissues, the youngest leaf, of Camellia sinensis L. In addition, some physiochemical parameters were also studied. Cd exposure decreased chlorophyll and protein contents, while increase was observed in lipid peroxidation upon Cd treatments. These changes were found to be concentration and duration dependent, indicating the occurrence of oxidative stress upon Cd exposure. The transcript levels of glutathione biosynthetic genes viz. ,-glutamylcysteine synthetase (,-ECS) and glutathione synthetase (GSHS) increased upon Cd exposure. Furthermore, transcript levels of glutathione reductase (GR), an enzyme involved in reduction of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) to reduced glutathione (GSH), also showed upregulation on Cd exposure. However, the transcript levels of glutathione-S-transferase (GST), an enzyme involved in forming metal,GSH complex and help in sequestration of high levels of metal ions to vacuole, did not show any change on Cd treatment. This study document that Cd exposure induces oxidative stress in Camellia sinensis and the upregulation in transcript levels of glutathione metabolic genes except GST have suggested the role of these enzymes in the protection of plants from high level Cd exposure. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 22: 368,374, 2007. [source] Biokinetics of cadmium and zinc in a marine bacterium: Influences of metal interaction and pre-exposureENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 8 2008Dongshi Chen Abstract The uptake kinetics of Cd and Zn, as influenced by metal interaction and metal pre-exposure, was examined in the gram-positive marine bacterium Bacillus firmus over a wide range of ambient free-Cd and -Zn concentrations. Bacteria were exposed to experimental media with different concentrations of Cd and Zn over a short, 15-min period. Zinc was found to be an effective competitive inhibitor of Cd uptake when the Zn2+ concentration ([Zn2+]) was increased to 10,8 M, whereas the Cd concentration (ranging from 10,9 to 10,6 M) did not affect Zn uptake. Inhibition of Cd uptake was dependent on [Zn2+] instead of the [Zn2+] to Cd2+ concentration ratio. Cadmium uptake at different [Zn2+] was significantly inhibited by a sulfur ligand (SH) blocker (N -ethylmaleimide) and a Ca-channel blocker (lanthanum), suggesting that competition between Cd and Zn most likely occurred via binding to the same transport sites. Cadmium efflux also was determined in the presence of different [Zn2+]. A biphasic depuration of Cd was found when [Zn2+] was greater than 10,8 M, whereas the calculated Cd efflux rate was independent of [Zn2+]. We further exposed B. firmus at different Cd or Zn concentrations for 24 h, then determined the metal uptake and efflux kinetics as well as the metallothionein (MT) induction. Both the Cd and Zn cellular concentrations increased with greater exposed metal concentration, but the MT levels and efflux were little affected by the elevated metal concentration. To some extent, however, the Cd uptake was reduced with an elevated intracellular Zn concentration, suggesting that at high Cd concentrations, intracellular Zn can suppress the Cd uptake in B. firmus. These results help to understand the interactions of metals in the marine environments. [source] A Distinct Asymmetrical Pattern of Cortical Malformation: Large Unilateral Malformation of Cortical Development with Contralateral Periventricular Nodular Heterotopia in Three Pediatric CasesEPILEPSIA, Issue 8 2005Annapurna Poduri Summary:,Purpose: To describe a distinct asymmetrical pattern of cortical malformation with large focal malformations of cortical development (MCDs) and contralateral periventricular nodular heterotopia (PNH). Methods: We identified three patients with epilepsy and focal EEG abnormalities. Each patient underwent 1.5-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to obtain sagittal T1 -weighted, axial fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), fast spin-echo (FSE) T2 -weighted, and coronal fast spin-echo inversion recovery (FSEIR) T2 -weighted images; coronal spoiled gradient recalled (SPGR) T1 -weighted images were obtained in two cases. Results: Patient 1, an 18-year-old right-handed man, had a 4-year history of intractable seizures. MRI revealed a right frontal subcortical heterotopia (SH) and a single left anterior PNH. Patient 2, a 10-year-old left-handed boy, had a 4-year history of epilepsy. MRI revealed a large region of SH in the left temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes and three right-sided PNH. Patient 3, a 16-month-old girl, had medically refractory infantile spasms. MRI revealed a large MCD in the left parietal lobe with contiguous underlying periventricular heterotopia as well as a small contralateral PNH. Conclusions: These cases together illustrate a distinct asymmetrical pattern of a large focal MCD with small contralateral PNH. The asymmetrical involvement of the two hemispheres suggests that the stage of maximal disruption of cortical development may differ between the two hemispheres. Further study into the mechanisms underlying such asymmetrical patterns of cortical malformation should enhance our understanding of cortical development as well as hemispheric lateralization. [source] Self-Assembly of a Tetranuclear CoIII -Metallacycle from the Reaction of a Bis(benzene- o -dithiolato) Ligand with CoII and Subsequent Aerial OxidationEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 3 2006F. Ekkehardt Hahn Abstract The bis(benzene- o -dithiol) ligand [(HS)2 -2,3-C6H3,CH2,C6H3 -2,3-(SH)2] (H4 - 1) reacts, after deprotonation with Li2CO3, with CoCl2·6H2O. Aerial oxidation in methanol gives the tetranuclear metallacycle Li4[Co4(1)4]. The X-ray structure analysis of (PNP)4[Co4(1)4] (7) reveals a cyclic structure in which each of the bis(benzene- o -dithiolato) ligands forms a bridge between two cobalt centers. Two differently coordinated cobalt atoms (syn and anti) are observed in the tetranuclear complex. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006) [source] Cardioventilatory Coupling in Resting Human SubjectsEXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 6 2003Y. C. Tzeng In 48 conscious resting subjects we examined the temporal coupling of heart beat timing and the onset of inspiration (cardioventilatory coupling), and the relationship between coupling and spectral indices of autonomic function. Using the proportional Shannon entropy (SH,) of the RI -1 interval (interval between inspiration and the preceding ECG R wave) as a measure of coupling we detected statistically significant coupling in 32 of the 48 subjects. This was confirmed by visual inspection of time series plots of RI intervals, in which coupling was evident as horizontal banding. Coupling resulted in a significant preference for whole number heart rate/respiratory frequency ratios. The strongest coupling was associated with low ventilatory frequency and high heart rate variability in the high (0.15-0.40 Hz) and low (0.04-0.15 Hz) frequency ranges, but was not related to blood pressure variability, or to a spectral measure of baroreflex sensitivity (,-index, low frequency range). There was no difference in coupling strength between males and females. We have previously described cardioventilatory coupling in spontaneously breathing anaesthetised subjects. The current study extends those observations by demonstrating that the qualitative features of coupling seen during anaesthesia are also observed in the conscious state. We conclude that the role of coupling in normal physiological respiratory control needs to be more widely explored. [source] Piezoelectric wafer active sensors for in situ ultrasonic-guided wave SHMFATIGUE & FRACTURE OF ENGINEERING MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES, Issue 8 2008L. YU ABSTRACT In situ structural health monitoring aims to perform on-demand interrogation of the structure to determine the presence of service-induced damage and defects using non-destructive evaluation ultrasonic wave methods. Recently emerged piezoelectric wafer active sensors (PWAS) have the potential to significantly improve damage detection and health monitoring. PWAS are low-profile transducers that can be permanently attached onto the structure or inserted in between composite laminates, and can perform structural damage detection in thin-wall structures using guided wave methods (Lamb, Rayleigh, SH, etc.). This paper describes the analytical and experimental work of using PWAS-guided waves for in situ structural damage detection on thin-wall structures. We begin with reviewing the guided wave theory in plate structures and PWAS principles. The mechanisms of Lamb wave excitation and detection using PWAS is presented. Subsequently, we address in turn the use of PWAS to generate Lamb waves for damage (cracks and corrosion) detection in metallic structures. Pulse-echo, pitch-catch, phased array and time reversal methods are illustrated demonstrating that PWAS Lamb-waves techniques are suitable for damage detection and structural health monitoring. The last part of the paper treats analytically and experimentally PWAS excitation and tuning in composite materials. The research results presented in this paper show that in situ SHM methodologies using PWAS transducers hold the promise for more efficient, effective and timely damage detection in thin-wall structures. [source] Contribution of exofacial thiol groups in the reducing activity of Lactococcus lactisFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 10 2010D. Michelon Lactococcus lactis can decrease the redox potential at pH 7 (Eh7) from 200 to ,200 mV in oxygen free Man,Rogosa,Sharpe media. Neither the consumption of oxidizing compounds or the release of reducing compounds during lactic acid fermentation were involved in the decrease in Eh7 by the bacteria. Thiol groups located on the bacterial cell surface appear to be the main components that are able to establish a greater exchange current between the Pt electrode and the bacteria. After the final Eh7 (,200 mV) was reached, only thiol-reactive reagents could restore the initial Eh7 value. Inhibition of the proton motive force showed no effect on maintaining the final Eh7 value. These results suggest that maintaining the exofacial thiol (,SH) groups in a reduced state does not depend on an active mechanism. Thiol groups appear to be displayed by membrane proteins or cell wall-bound proteins and may participate in protecting cells against oxidative stress. [source] Charging of tRNA with non-natural amino acids at high pressureFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 13 2006Malgorzata Giel-Pietraszuk We show a simple and reliable method of tRNA aminoacylation with natural, as well as non-natural, amino acids at high pressure. Such specific and noncognate tRNAs can be used as valuable substrates for protein engineering. Aminoacylation yield at high pressure depends on the chemical nature of the amino acid used and it is up to 10%. Using CoA, which carries two potentially reactive groups -SH and -OH, as a model compound we showed that at high pressure amino acid is bound preferentially to the hydroxyl group of the terminal ribose ring. [source] Do endogenous seasonal cycles of food intake influence foraging behaviour and intake by grazing sheep?FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, Issue 5 2000G. R. Iason Abstract 1.,Large herbivores living in temperate regions show different degrees of seasonal biological variation, including voluntary food intake (VFI). The decline of VFI in winter has been hypothesized to be an evolved response to lower food availability or quality, which can act as an internal constraint on food intake. 2.,The hypotheses were tested that (i) animals that have a greater inherent seasonal variation of VFI, measured indoors under ad libitum conditions, would also have a greater seasonal variation in intake and grazing behaviour under field conditions, and (ii) greater seasonal variation in intake and grazing behaviour under field conditions would be expressed at a higher level of food availability. 3.,The intake and grazing behaviour in summer and winter, of three breeds of sheep, were compared at two levels of food availability (at pasture heights of 3·7 and 5·4 cm). The breeds were known to have contrasting degrees of seasonal variation in food intake when fed ad libitum; the VFI of the Shetland (SH) and Scottish Blackface (BF) sheep varies greatly between seasons whereas that of the Dorset Horn (DH) is less seasonally variable. 4.,All three breeds consistently increased their rates of biting and duration of grazing activity in the winter, taking many more smaller bites each day than in the summer, and both digestibility and intake were lower in winter than in summer. 5.,Contrary to expectation, the DH ewes had the highest seasonal difference of dry matter intake at pasture, whereas the SH breed had the lowest variation of intake between seasons. 6.,This experiment provides no evidence that differences between seasons in intake and foraging behaviour in the field vary with the animals' degree of endogenous seasonal variation in VFI. Variation between seasons was consistent at both levels of resource availability, suggesting that it resulted from seasonal changes in food quality (digestibility) rather than biomass availability. It is not easy to extrapolate from laboratory feeding studies, where animals' own physiological constraints apply, to foraging ecology in the field, where constraints imposed by the environment may be more important. [source] Population-Based U.S. Study of Severe Headaches in Adults: Psychological Distress and ComorbiditiesHEADACHE, Issue 2 2006Objective.,To examine the associations between severe headaches (SH), psychological distress, and comorbid conditions among U.S. adults. Background.,The lifetime prevalence of headaches is over 90% and headaches, particularly migraines, have been associated with disability, increased healthcare costs, and mood disorders. Methods.,We analyzed data obtained from adults aged 18 years or older (n = 29,828) who participated in the 2002 National Health Interview Survey, an ongoing, computer-assisted personal interview of a representative sample of the U.S. population. Results.,Approximately 15.1% of adults aged 18 years or older reported SH in the previous 3 months. Those reporting such headaches were significantly more likely, than those who did not, to report insomnia, excessive sleepiness, recurrent pain, and depressive or anxiety symptoms during the preceding 12 months. Approximately 88% of those who reported having had SH within the previous 3 months also indicated that they had at least one comorbid medical condition, relative to 67% of those without SH. Conclusion.,Despite their episodic nature, our results suggest that SH are associated with impairments in both physical and mental health. As the presence of SH may serve as an indicator of significant psychological distress and medical comorbidities, eliciting information about their occurrence during a standard medical examination appears to be warranted. [source] Inter-rater and test,retest reliability of three contingent valuation question formats in south-east NigeriaHEALTH ECONOMICS, Issue 5 2005Obinna Onwujekwe Abstract This paper examines the inter-rater and test,retest reliability of willingness to pay (WTP) for insecticide-treated mosquito nets and net re-treatment using the bidding game (BG), binary with follow-up (BWFU) and a novel structured haggling technique (SH). Inter-rater reliability was evaluated by having two sets of interviewers administer questionnaires to 109 (BG), 110 (BWFU) and 103 (SH) randomly selected household heads. Test,retest reliability was investigated by repeating interviews on 146 (BG), 161 (BWFU) and 139 (SH) household heads one month after an initial survey. Data analysis used testing of means, Spearman's correlation and Pearson's correlation coefficient for test of reliability, while non-parametric analysis was used to determine factors causing a variation in WTP. The study was conducted in Southeast Nigeria. Inter-rater reliability coefficients were estimated for the individual's WTP for own nets, WTP for others and WTP for re-treatment. Using WTP for own nets as the best reliability estimate, the coefficients were high at values of 0.77 (C.I. 0.72,0.86), 0.75 (C.I. 0.64,0.81) and 0.74 (C.I. 0.63,0.82) in the BG, BWFU and SH, respectively. In test,retest reliability coefficients, the coefficients for WTP for own nets were low-to-moderate at values of 0.51 (C.I. 0.40,0.62), 0.41 (C.I. 0.28,0.53) and 0.56 (C.I. 0.41,0.65) for the BG, BWFU and SH groups, respectively. Factors such as gender, change in income, unplanned expenditures, stated WTP in first survey, time-to-think, external information, and subjecting respondents to more than one interview explained the lower test,retest reliability coefficients. We conclude that the CVM was reliable in the study area and the question formats had similar levels of reliability. The lower coefficients in the test,retest reliability were due to the influence of factors affecting demand that had changed in the intervening period. Standard formats for determining reliability within CVM should be developed for easy comparison of results from different studies. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] China's snow disaster in 2008, who is the principal player?INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 14 2009Gao Hui Abstract The unprecedented snow disaster in January 2008 brought serious human and economic losses to China. It has been suggested that the La Nina event is the principal cause. But analysis indicates that in December 2007, the circulation patterns in the tropical regions are quite similar with those in January 2008. In contrast large differences existed at high latitudes, especially the Siberia high (SH) and the north polar vortex (NPV). The differences can also be found between other extreme heavy and light snow years. In the extreme heavy (light) snow years, the SH is stronger (weaker) and the NPV is deeper (shallower). But these extreme snow events don't correspond to ENSO events well. Statistical results also indicate that both the SH and the NPV are independent of ENSO. So, rather than the La Nina event, the abnormal circulations at the high latitudes may play a more crucial role in making this snow disaster. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society [source] The Pacific,South American modes and their downstream effectsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 10 2001Kingtse C. Mo Abstract There are two pervasive modes of atmospheric variability in the Southern Hemisphere (SH) that influence circulation and rainfall anomalies over South America. They appear as leading empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) of 500-hPa height or 200-hPa streamfunction anomalies and are found from intraseasonal to decadal time scales. Both patterns exhibit wave 3 hemispheric patterns in mid to high latitudes, and a well-defined wave train with large amplitude in the Pacific,South American (PSA) sector. Therefore, they are referred to as the PSA modes (PSA1 and PSA2). PSA1 is related to sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs) over the central and eastern Pacific at decadal scales, and it is the response to El Niño,Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the interannual band. The associated rainfall summer pattern shows rainfall deficits over northeastern Brazil and enhanced rainfall over southeastern South America similar to rainfall anomalies during ENSO. PSA2 is associated with the quasi-biennial component of ENSO, with a period of 22,28 months and the strongest connections occur during the austral spring. The associated rainfall pattern shows a dipole pattern with anomalies out of phase between the South Atlantic Convergence Zone (SACZ) extending from central South America into the Atlantic and the subtropical plains centred at 35°S. These two modes are also apparent in tropical intraseasonal oscillations for both summer and winter. Eastward propagation of enhanced convection from the Indian Ocean through the western Pacific to the central Pacific is accompanied by a wave train that appears to originate in the convective regions. The positive PSA1 pattern is associated with enhanced convection over the Pacific from 150°E to the date line. The convection pattern associated with PSA2 is in quadrature with that of PSA1. Both PSA modes are influenced by the Madden Julian Oscillation and influence rainfall over South America. Copyright © 2001 Royal Meteorological Society [source] Use of therapeutic responses to glucose replacement to predict glucose patterns in diabetic patients presenting with severe hypoglycaemiaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 8 2009Y.-Y. Lin Summary Objective:, The purpose of this study was to determine whether initial serum glucose levels, therapeutic responses to intravenous glucose replacement and changes in serum glucose levels over time could predict serum glucose patterns. Methods:, The patients enrolled in this retrospective chart review had been previously diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and were later hospitalised for severe hypoglycaemia (SH). They were all admitted to the emergency department (ED) during a 4-year period between January 2003 and December 2006. Comparison of the therapeutic responses to glucose replacement according to the serum glucose patterns [categorised into recurrent hypoglycaemia (RH), overshoot hyperglycaemia (OH) and favourable groups] during the first 48 h was performed. Results:, Compared with the favourable group, therapeutic responses to glucose replacement were significantly lower in the RH group and higher in the OH group; the changes in serum glucose levels over time were also significantly lower in the RH group and higher in the OH group. Conclusion:, Therapeutic responses to glucose replacement and changes in serum glucose levels over time can differentiate diabetic patients with RH and OH from those with favourable glucose patterns during the first 48 h after presentation in the ED with SH. We believe that a ,response-to-treatment' based strategy is useful in determining the ED disposition of diabetic patients presenting with SH. [source] Shock tube pyrolysis of thiopheneINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, Issue 3 2003Hafeez Ur Rahman Memon Abstract The kinetics of the thermal decomposition of thiophene diluted in argon have been studied behind reflected shock waves in a single pulse shock tube over the temperature range 1598,2022 K and pressures between 2.5 and 3.44 bar. Product yields and composition were determined using capillary column gas chromatography with flame ionization detection and flame photometric sulphur selective detection. The principal hydrocarbon product at all temperatures was ethyne. Ethanethiol was found to be the major sulphur product together with H2S formed in significant concentrations at lower temperatures. Carbon disulphide was also formed at higher temperatures. Additional reaction products were CH4, C2H4, C3H4, C4H3, C4H6, C4H4, C6H6 and C4H2 with some traces were found of C5 and C6H5 species. It was concluded that pyrolysis of thiophene is initiated by C,S bond fission to form the C4H4S radical which reacts to give C4H3 + SH together with the reaction giving C3H4 + CS. The rate expression obtained for the pyrolysis reaction was k (C4H4S)=2.2×1011 exp (270 kJ mol,1) s,1. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Low coronary driving pressure early in the course of myocardial infarction is associated with subendocardial remodelling and left ventricular dysfunctionINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2007Marcia Kiyomi Koike Summary Subendocardial remodelling of the left ventricular (LV) non-infarcted myocardium has been poorly investigated. Previously, we have demonstrated that low coronary driving pressure (CDP) early postinfarction was associated with the subsequent development of remote subendocardial fibrosis. The present study aimed at examining the role of CDP in LV remodelling and function following infarction. Haemodynamics were performed in Wistar rats immediately after myocardial infarction (MI group) or sham surgery (SH group) and at days 1, 3, 7 and 28. Heart tissue sections were stained with HE, Sirius red and immunostained for ,-actin. Two distinct LV regions remote to infarction were examined: subendocardium (SE) and interstitium (INT). Myocyte necrosis, leucocyte infiltration, myofibroblasts and collagen volume fraction were determined. Compared with SH, MI showed lower CDP and LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction. Necrosis was evident in SE at day 1. Inflammation and fibroplasia predominated in SE as far as day 7. Fibrosis was restricted to SE from day 3 on. Inflammation occurred in INT at days 1 and 3, but at a lower grade than in SE. CDP correlated inversely with SE necrosis (r = ,0.65, P = 0.003, at day 1), inflammation (r = ,0.76, P < 0.001, at day 1), fibroplasia (r = ,0.47, P = 0.04, at day 7) and fibrosis (r = ,0.83, P < 0.001, at day 28). Low CDP produced progressive LV expansion. Necrosis at day 1, inflammation at days 3 and 7, and fibroplasia at day 7 correlated inversely with LV function. CDP is a key factor to SE integrity and affects LV remodelling and function following infarction. [source] Complexes self-associate by hydrogen bonding and metallophilic attraction: Theoretical studyINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUANTUM CHEMISTRY, Issue 4 2006Fernando Mendizabal Abstract Hydrogen bonding and metallophilic attractions are studied in the model systems: [(AuNH3Cl)2], [(AuNH(CH3)2Cl)2], [{Au2(,-SH)(PH2O)(PH2OH)}2], [(CuNH3Cl)2], and [{Cu(NH3)Cl}4] at the Hartree,Fock (HF) and second-order Møller,Plesset (MP2) levels. The two interactions are found to be comparable and prevailing in the final structure. It is determined that the aurophilic contact has a same magnitude that the hydrogen bonding, and is stronger than the cuprophilic interaction. The presence of hydrogen bond directs the growth of the crystal. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006 [source] Ultrastructural and histochemical study on gills and skin of the Senegal sole, Solea senegalensisJOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 6 2004J. M. Arellano Summary This study was undertaken to identify the normal ultrastructural features of gills and skin of the Senegal sole, Solea senegalensis, for a comparative measure to morphological alterations caused by environmental stressors such as reduced water quality and diseases. In the Senegal sole skin, four morphologically distinct layers were identified: cuticle, epidermis, dermis and hypodermis. The epidermis was composed of stratified epithelium containing three cellular layers: the outermost or mucosa layer, the middle or fusiform layer and the stratum germinativum or the basal layer. In the mucosa, two mucous cell types were differentiated: type A cells containing several round vesicles of different electron density and type B cells containing mucosomes of uniform electron density. Senegal sole have five pairs of gill arches, each containing two rows of well-developed and compactly organized primary filaments and secondary lamellae. Fingerprint-like microridges were observed on the surface of epithelial cells. The branchial lamellae epithelium consisted of different cell types: pavement, mucous and chloride. Between the chloride cells and the larger pavement cells, accessory cells were observed. Complexes of tight junctions and desmosomes were frequently observed between adjacent chloride and epithelial cells. Neutral mucosubstances and/or glycoconjugates were observed in the epidermis, dermis and hypodermis of S. senegalensis skin. Proteins rich in different amino acids, such as arginine and cysteine, reacted negatively or weakly positive in the epidermis, dermis and hypodermis. In gills, some mucous cells responded weakly positive to periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) reaction but were strongly stained with Alcian Blue at pH 0.5, 1 and 2.5. When Alcian Blue pH 2.5,PAS reaction was performed, most mucous cells were stained blue (carboxylated mucins) and some mucocytes stained purple, indicating a combination of neutral and acid mucins. Proteins rich in cysteine-bound sulphydryl (-SH-) and cystine disulphide (-S-S-) groups were strongly detected in branchial and epidermal mucous cells, whereas lysine, tyrosine and arginine containing proteins showed very weak staining in both epidermal and branchial mucous cells. Protein reactions were strongly positive in the pillar cells, except for those rich in tryptophan, whereas the branchial cartilaginous tissue did not show an important reaction. The performed lipid reactions were negative in goblet and chloride cells. It is concluded from this study that ultrastructural and cytohistochemical features of the Senegal sole skin and gills may serve as control structures in both natural and aquaculture systems to monitor or detect environmental stress responses at the histological level. [source] Paricalcitol [19-Nor-1,25-(OH)2D2] in the Treatment of Experimental Renal Bone Disease,JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 5 2006Jarkko Jokihaara Abstract Paricalcitol is a less hypercalcemic vitamin D analog that has been shown to suppress secondary hyperparathyroidism and to prevent the associated histomorphometric changes in bone. In this study, we show that paricalcitol also ameliorates the renal insufficiency-induced loss of bone mineral and the mechanical competence of bone. Introduction: Renal bone disease is a common consequence of chronic renal insufficiency and the associated secondary hyperparathyroidism (SH). Paricalcitol [19-nor-1,25(OH)2D2] has been shown to ameliorate SH and prevent renal failure,induced histomorphometric changes in bone with minimal calcemic and phosphatemic activity. However, information about its efficacy on restoration of bone structural strength is lacking. In this study, we explored the effects of paricalcitol treatment on bone structure and strength in a model of advanced renal disease. Materials and Methods: Forty-five 8-week-old rats were randomly assigned to either surgical 5/6 nephrectomy (NTX) or Sham-operation. After a 15-week postoperative disease progression period, the NTX rats were further allocated to uremic control (NTX) and treatment (NTX + paricalcitol) groups, the latter of which received paricalcitol for the subsequent 12 weeks. After 27 weeks, the animals were killed, plasma samples were collected, and both femora were excised for comprehensive analysis of the femoral neck and midshaft (pQCT and biomechanical testing). Results: High mortality that exceeded 30% was observed in both NTX groups. NTX induced over a 13-fold increase in plasma PTH, whereas this increase was only 5-fold after paricalcitol treatment. At the femoral neck, NTX was associated with an 8.1% decrease (p < 0.05) in vBMD and a 16% decrease in breaking load (p < 0.05) compared with the Sham group, whereas paricalcitol treatment completely prevented these changes. At the femoral midshaft, the NTX resulted in a 6.6% decrease in cortical BMD (p < 0.01 versus Sham), and this change was also prevented by paricalcitol. Conclusions: Paricalcitol administration prevented renal insufficiency-associated decreases in BMD in the femoral neck and the femoral midshaft and restored bone strength in the femoral neck. Therefore, paricalcitol can efficiently ameliorate renal insufficiency-induced loss of bone mineral and mechanical competence of bone. [source] Rutin Inhibits Ovariectomy-Induced Osteopenia in RatsJOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 11 2000Marie-Noëlle Horcajada-Molteni Abstract Several studies suggest that polyphenols might exert a protective effect against osteopenia. The present experiment was conducted to observe the effects of rutin (quercetin-3- O -glucose rhamnose) on bone metabolism in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Thirty 3-month-old Wistar rats were used. Twenty were OVX while the 10 controls were sham-operated (SH). Among the 20 OVX, for 90 days after surgery 10 were fed the same synthetic diet as the SH or OVX ones, but 0. 25% rutin (OVX + R) was added. At necropsy, the decrease in uterine weight was not different in OVX and OVX + R rats. Ovariectomy also induced a significant decrease in both total and distal metaphyseal femoral mineral density, which was prevented by rutin consumption. Moreover, femoral failure load, which was not different in OVX and SH rats, was even higher in OVX + R rats than in OVX or SH rats. In the same way, on day 90, both urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD) excretion (a marker for bone resorption) and calciuria were higher in OVX rats than in OVX + R or SH rats. Simultaneously, plasma osteocalcin (OC) concentration (a marker for osteoblastic activity) was higher in OVX + R rats than in SH rats. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) profiles of plasma samples from OVX + R rats revealed that mean plasma concentration of active metabolites (quercetin and isorhamnetin) from rutin was 9.46 + 1 ,M, whereas it was undetectable in SH and OVX rats. These results indicate that rutin (and/or its metabolites), which appeared devoid of any uterotrophic activity, inhibits ovariectomy-induced trabecular bone loss in rats, both by slowing down resorption and increasing osteoblastic activity. [source] Enhanced proliferation and differentiation of rat hepatocytes cultured with bone marrow stromal cellsJOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 1 2001Toru Mizuguchi Liver transplantation is the only clinically effective method of treating acute liver failure. However, wider application of this therapeutic modality is restricted primarily by shortage of donor organs. In the search for alternative methods of liver replacement therapy, investigators have focused on transplantation of normal allogeneic hepatocytes and on the development of liver support systems utilizing isolated hepatocytes. Since all human livers suitable for cell harvest are being used for transplantation, hepatocyte therapy using human tissue would require growing of cells in vitro. Unfortunately, although hepatocytes have tremendous capacity to proliferate in vivo, their ability to grow in culture is severely limited. Stromal cells from bone marrow and other blood-forming organs have been found to support hematopoiesis. In this paper, we show that bone marrow-derived stromal cells (BMSCs) enhance proliferation and support differentiation of rat hepatocytes in culture. Further, we demonstrate that in hepatocyte/BMSC co-cultures, clonal expansion of small hepatocytes (SH) is increased. Using semipermeable membrane cultures, we established that direct cell,cell contact is necessary for stimulation of cell proliferation. We also show that BMSCs which are in direct contact with hepatocytes and SH colonies express Jagged1. This suggests a potential role for Notch signaling in the observed effects. Finally, we present evidence that the expression and activity of liver specific transcirption factors, CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins and liver specific key enzymes such as tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase, are improved in hepatocyte/BMSC co-cultures. In conclusion, results of this study indicate that BMSCs could facilitate proliferation and differentiation of primary rat hepatocytes and their progenitors (SH) in vitro. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Biodegradability of slaughterhouse wastewater with high blood content under anaerobic and aerobic conditionsJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 4 2003Rodrigo del Pozo Abstract In this work, the biodegradability of wastewater from a slaughterhouse located in Ke,an, Turkey, was studied under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. A very high total COD content of 7230,mg,dm,3 was found, due to an inefficient blood recovery system. Low BOD5/COD ratio, high organic nitrogen and soluble COD contents, were in accordance with a high blood content. A respirometry test for COD fractionation showed a very low readily biodegradable fraction (SS) of 2%, a rapidly hydrolysable fraction (SH) of 51%, a slowly hydrolysable fraction (XS) of 33% and an inert fraction of 6%. Kinetic analysis revealed that hydrolysis rates were much slower than these of domestic sewage. The results underlined the need for an anaerobic stage prior to aerobic treatment. Tests with an anaerobic batch reactor indicated efficient COD degradation, up to around 80% removal. Further anaerobic degradation of the remaining COD was much slower and resulted in the build up of inert COD compounds generated as part of the metabolic activities in the anaerobic reactor. Accordingly, it is suggested that an appropriate combination of anaerobic and aerobic reactors would have to limit anaerobic degradation to around 80% of the tCOD and an effluent concentration above 1000,mg,dm,3, for the optimum operation of the following aerobic stage. © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Conservative management of an extensive renal graft subcapsular hematoma arising during living donor nephrectomy.JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ULTRASOUND, Issue 3 2010Role of Doppler sonographic posttransplant follow-up Abstract We report a case of subcapsular hematoma (SH) of a kidney graft arising during minimal-incision living-donor nephrectomy. SH covered at least two-thirds of the cortical surface. Capsulotomy was not done because it was deemed too risky. In the immediate postoperative period, a rapid deterioration of graft function was observed associated with Doppler sonographic evidence of graft compression. However, in the following days, spontaneous resolution of SH and progressive improvement of Doppler findings was observed, which preceded full recovery of graft function. Conservative management seemed a valid approach of this complication in this case where Doppler sonography proved essential for the follow-up. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2010 [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||