Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Various Methods (various + methods)
Terms modified by Various Methods Selected AbstractsEvaluation of Adhesion and Wear Resistance of DLC Films Deposited by Various MethodsPLASMA PROCESSES AND POLYMERS, Issue 6-7 2009Takahiro Horiuchi Abstract Diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings are currently being used in a wide variety of industrial fields because of their outstanding properties, such as high hardness and low friction coefficient, among others. DLC coatings have various characteristics depending on the deposition method used. However, they have a problem regarding adhesion with the base material, which is a major factor hindering their expanded application in other fields. The adhesion of DLC coatings is generally evaluated using Rockwell indentation tests and scratch tests. These test methods induce damage in the specimen with the application of a single load. Accordingly, there is a problem of low correlation between such test results and evaluations of the adhesion of coatings on actual components that undergo repeated sliding cycles. With the aim of resolving that problem, this study evaluated the damage condition of three types of DLC coatings having different physical properties using newly devised cyclic sliding test methods involving the application of a continuously increasing load. The evaluation results obtained with these new methods differed from the results of Rockwell tests and scratch tests. These new test methods are more able to reproduce the damage done to DLC coatings in actual sliding cycles. This paper describes the test procedures and the evaluation results obtained. [source] Effects of Operating Parameters on the Cinnamaldehyde Content of Extracted Essential Oil Using Various MethodsCHEMICAL ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY (CET), Issue 2 2010H. Baseri Abstract Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of essential oils from commercial cinnamon bark was compared with essential oils that were obtained by hydrodistillation. Effects of operating parameters (pressure, temperature and extraction time of SFE) on the extraction yield and the composition of the extracted volatile oil were studied. Moreover, in the hydrodistillation process, the effect of the pH of the solvent on the concentration of cinnamaldehyde in the extracted volatile oil was studied. The maximum yield of extract in the SFE process is about 7.8,% at 70,°C and 240,bar. The maximum concentration of cinnamaldehyde in the SFE process was obtained at 70,°C and 160,bar, and the maximum concentration of this component in hydrodistillation was achieved at pH,=,4.1. [source] Survey of the pre-school child health surveillance programme in SwedenACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 2000R Kornfält A survey of the programme for developmental surveillance in the Child Health Centres (CHCs) in Sweden was performed using a questionnaire administered to the Chief Medical Officers (CMO) of the Child Health Services. The questionnaire asked about methods used for auditory examination, developmental surveillance and identification of disturbances in mother-child interaction. Activities for health promotion concerning breastfeeding, non-smoking and allergy prevention were also queried. Thirty-four CMOs representing 1731 CHCs and 645000 children answered the questionnaire. The reply rate was 81%. Various methods of auditory examination are offered all infants and children in Sweden. The national guidelines for health supervision are followed fairly closely by all. Screening for disturbances in attention, motor development and perception (DAMP) is performed by all but four districts, with various methods, resources and degrees of co-operation with school health services. Support in mother-child interaction is considered very important and new methods to identify and treat disturbances are gradually introduced. Breastfeeding is encouraged; breast milk is the main source of food for 67% of babies at 4 mo of age. Activities to stop or diminish use of tobacco are ongoing everywhere, as are programmes to identify children at risk of developing allergies and for allergy prevention. Thus, the Child Health Services maintain a high standard and are ambitious about introducing new methods and ideas. [source] Partitioning of metals (Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) in soils: concepts, methodologies, prediction and applications , a reviewEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 4 2009F. Degryse Summary Prediction of the fate of metals in soil requires knowledge of their solid,liquid partitioning. This paper reviews analytical methods and models for measuring or predicting the solid,liquid partitioning of metals in aerobic soils, and collates experimental data. The partitioning is often expressed with an empirical distribution coefficient or Kd, which gives the ratio of the concentration in the solid phase to that in the solution phase. The Kd value of a metal reflects the net effect of various reactions in the solid and liquid phases and varies by orders of magnitude among soils. The Kd value can be derived from the solid,liquid distribution of added metal or that of the soil-borne metal. Only part of the solid-phase metal is rapidly exchangeable with the solution phase. Various methods have been developed to quantify this ,labile' phase, and Kd values based on this phase often correlate better with soil properties than Kd values based on total concentration, and are more appropriate to express metal ion buffering in solute transport models. The in situ soil solution is the preferred solution phase for Kd determinations. Alternatively, water or dilute-salt extracts can be used, but these may underestimate in situ concentrations of dissolved metals because of dilution of metal-complexing ligands such as dissolved organic matter. Multi-surface models and empirical models have been proposed to predict metal partitioning from soil properties. Though soil pH is the most important soil property determining the retention of the free metal ion, Kd values based on total dissolved metal in solution may show little pH dependence for metal ions that have strong affinity for dissolved organic matter. The Kd coefficient is used as an equilibrium constant in risk assessment models. However, slow dissociation of metal complexes in solution and slow exchange of metals between labile and non-labile pools in the solid phase may invalidate this equilibrium assumption. [source] A covariance-adaptive approach for regularized inversion in linear modelsGEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2007Christopher Kotsakis SUMMARY The optimal inversion of a linear model under the presence of additive random noise in the input data is a typical problem in many geodetic and geophysical applications. Various methods have been developed and applied for the solution of this problem, ranging from the classic principle of least-squares (LS) estimation to other more complex inversion techniques such as the Tikhonov,Philips regularization, truncated singular value decomposition, generalized ridge regression, numerical iterative methods (Landweber, conjugate gradient) and others. In this paper, a new type of optimal parameter estimator for the inversion of a linear model is presented. The proposed methodology is based on a linear transformation of the classic LS estimator and it satisfies two basic criteria. First, it provides a solution for the model parameters that is optimally fitted (in an average quadratic sense) to the classic LS parameter solution. Second, it complies with an external user-dependent constraint that specifies a priori the error covariance (CV) matrix of the estimated model parameters. The formulation of this constrained estimator offers a unified framework for the description of many regularization techniques that are systematically used in geodetic inverse problems, particularly for those methods that correspond to an eigenvalue filtering of the ill-conditioned normal matrix in the underlying linear model. Our study lies on the fact that it adds an alternative perspective on the statistical properties and the regularization mechanism of many inversion techniques commonly used in geodesy and geophysics, by interpreting them as a family of ,CV-adaptive' parameter estimators that obey a common optimal criterion and differ only on the pre-selected form of their error CV matrix under a fixed model design. [source] Assessment of regional geomagnetic field modelling methods using a standard data set: spherical cap harmonic analysisGEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2000Z. Düzgit Various methods that take account of the potential nature of the field have been proposed for modelling geomagnetic data on a regional scale. Several of these have been applied to a standard data set based on annual mean values from observatories in Europe. Here, we examine some of the properties of spherical cap harmonic analysis when applied to this data set, and compare the quality of fit with that of the other models. It is found that, for this data set, rectangular polynomial analysis provides a compact fit to main field data, but that in most other cases, for both main field and anomaly data, spherical cap harmonic analysis provides the better fit. Although relatively insensitive to chosen cap size, spherical cap harmonic analysis deteriorates more rapidly than the other methods when the number of coefficients is reduced. [source] Human reach envelope and zone differentiation for ergonomic designHUMAN FACTORS AND ERGONOMICS IN MANUFACTURING & SERVICE INDUSTRIES, Issue 1 2009Jingzhou (James) Yang In human-centric design, the human reach envelope is one of the most important components to help layout design for workstations, vehicles, and aircrafts. It also can help people to study the range of motion of different body segments. Various methods have been developed to determine human reach envelopes. This article presents different methods and common challenges. Human reach envelopes only give feedback concerning whether a point is reachable. This is not enough for the designers. The more important information the designers need to know is the zones with different discomfort levels. This capability is a powerful tool for ergonomic designers. In addition, a methodology for workspace solid zone differentiation or surface zone differentiation in the three-dimensional space is presented. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] New approaches in application of differential quadrature method to fourth-order differential equationsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 2 2005Xinwei Wang Abstract Various methods to apply multiple boundary conditions in the differential quadrature method are summarized and discussed. Two of them are new approaches appearing for the first time. Numerical examples demonstrate the accuracy of the new methods in applying multiple boundary conditions. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Cover Picture: Synthesis of a Self-Assembled Hybrid of Ultrananocrystalline Diamond and Carbon Nanotubes (Adv. Mater.ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 12 200512/2005) Abstract The cover shows self-assembled hybrids of ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). These hybrids were successfully prepared by their simultaneous growth within an argon-rich Ar/CH4 plasma, in work reported on p.,1496 by Carlisle and co-workers. Various methods demonstrated the coexistence of UNCD and CNTs, and the capability of controlling the relative fraction and configuration of UNCD and CNTs in the hybrid material. This new synthesis pathway enables the development of new nanocarbons with unique mechanical, tribological, and electrochemical properties. [source] Importance of C16 ceramide accumulation during apoptosis in prostate cancer cellsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 2 2006MASATOSHI ETO Aim:, Adenocarcinoma of the prostate is one of the most frequently diagnosed non-cutaneous cancers and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men in the United States. To fully understand the role of ceramide during apoptosis induced by androgen ablation, we modified the levels of intracellular ceramide by pharmacological agents as well as through serum deprivation in androgen-dependent and independent cell lines. Methods:, Ceramide levels were modified using N-oleoylethanolamine (NOE), sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) as well as through serum deprivation, in LNCaP, DU145 and PC-3 prostate cancer cells. Various methods including nonyl acridine orange staining, propidium iodide staining/cell cycle analysis and lipid analysis were utilized. Results:, Our results demonstrate that the inhibition of acid ceramidase by NOE enhances the intracellular ceramide levels induced by androgen ablation in androgen-dependent LNCaP cells, and is accompanied by an increase in apoptotic cells. Sphingosine 1-phosphate had no effect in rescuing LNCaP cells from apoptosis induced by androgen ablation. Our results also show that serum deprivation causes intracellular ceramide accumulation and apoptosis in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells. Conclusions:, Our studies indicate that the increase in intracellular ceramide itself, but not the balance between ceramide and S1P, determines whether LNCaP cells undergo apoptosis. Our results also show that the increase in intracellular ceramide strongly correlates with apoptosis induced by serum deprivation even in androgen-independent prostate cancer cell lines. [source] Empirical comparison of density estimators for large carnivoresJOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, Issue 1 2010Martyn E. Obbard Summary 1. Population density is a critical ecological parameter informing effective wildlife management and conservation decisions. Density is often estimated by dividing capture,recapture (C,R) estimates of abundance () by size of the study area, but this relies on the assumption of geographic closure , a situation rarely achieved in studies of large carnivores. For geographically open populations is overestimated relative to the size of the study area because animals with only part of their home range on the study area are available for capture. This bias (,edge effect') is more severe when animals such as large carnivores range widely. To compensate for edge effect, a boundary strip around the trap array is commonly included when estimating the effective trap area (). Various methods for estimating the width of the boundary strip are proposed, but / estimates of large carnivore density are generally mistrusted unless concurrent telemetry data are available to define. Remote sampling by cameras or hair snags may reduce study costs and duration, yet without telemetry data inflated density estimates remain problematic. 2. We evaluated recently developed spatially explicit capture,recapture (SECR) models using data from a common large carnivore, the American black bear Ursus americanus, obtained by remote sampling of 11 geographically open populations. These models permit direct estimation of population density from C,R data without assuming geographic closure. We compared estimates derived using this approach to those derived using conventional approaches that estimate density as /. 3. Spatially explicit C,R estimates were 20,200% lower than densities estimated as /. AICc supported individual heterogeneity in capture probabilities and home range sizes. Variable home range size could not be accounted for when estimating density as /. 4.Synthesis and applications. We conclude that the higher densities estimated as / compared to estimates from SECR models are consistent with positive bias due to edge effects in the former. Inflated density estimates could lead to management decisions placing threatened or endangered large carnivores at greater risk. Such decisions could be avoided by estimating density by SECR when bias due to geographic closure violation cannot be minimized by study design. [source] Simulation of DNA electrophoresis in systems of large number of solvent particles by coarse-grained hybrid molecular dynamics approachJOURNAL OF COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY, Issue 4 2009Rong Wang Abstract Simulation of DNA electrophoresis facilitates the design of DNA separation devices. Various methods have been explored for simulating DNA electrophoresis and other processes using implicit and explicit solvent models. Explicit solvent models are highly desired but their applications may be limited by high computing cost in simulating large number of solvent particles. In this work, a coarse-grained hybrid molecular dynamics (CGH-MD) approach was introduced for simulating DNA electrophoresis in explicit solvent of large number of solvent particles. CGH-MD was tested in the simulation of a polymer solution and computation of nonuniform charge distribution in a cylindrical nanotube, which shows good agreement with observations and those of more rigorous computational methods at a significantly lower computing cost than other explicit-solvent methods. CGH-MD was further applied to the simulation of DNA electrophoresis in a polymer solution and in a well-studied nanofluidic device. Simulation results are consistent with observations and reported simulation results, suggesting that CGH-MD is potentially useful for studying electrophoresis of macromolecules and assemblies in nanofluidic, microfluidic, and microstructure array systems that involve extremely large number of solvent particles, nonuniformly distributed electrostatic interactions, bound and sequestered water molecules. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 2009 [source] The study of the creatine kinase in rat brain during ischemia by magnetization transfer and biochemical analysisJOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, Issue 2003D. Dobrota Various methods are used to study the biochemical changes in the central nervous system under normal and pathological conditions. The magnetization transfer 31P magnetic resonance technique was used here to measure the creatine kinase (CK) reaction rate constant in vivo in rats with cerebral ischemia. The measurements indicated that the rate constant of the CK reaction was significantly reduced in the case of chronic brain ischemia in aged rats. The similar reduction of the creatine kinase activity was found in the ischemic rat brain homogenate measured by biochemical analysis. At the same time, corresponding conventional phosphorus magnetic resonance spectra showed negligible or no change in signal intensities of compounds containing macroergic phosphates. Acknowledgements: This work was supported by the Grant Category C and Comenius University Grant No. X/2003. [source] Improved PI controller with delayed or filtered integral modeAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 12 2002Jietae Lee Integral action is almost always included in process control systems to eliminate steady-state offset without uncertain process gain. The open-loop pole, however, at the origin of the integral term causes some problems such as integral windup. Various methods to solve these problems were studied. For better control performance and robustness, a filter was added to the integral term, which decouples the effective frequency ranges between the integral and proportional terms without degradation of the integral action. It produces a phase lead in a certain frequency range without having a derivative term, enhancing the control performances and stability robustness. Based on the internal model control method or the direct synthesis method, tuning rules for the proposed controller are given. [source] A comparison of two methods for the isolation of free and occluded particulate organic matterJOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION AND SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 5 2005Angelika Kölbl Abstract Various methods exist for the isolation of particulate organic matter (POM), one of the soil-organic-matter (SOM) fractions reacting most sensitive on land-use or soil-management changes. A combination of density separation and ultrasonic treatment allows to isolate two types of POM: (1) free POM and (2) POM occluded in soil aggregates. POM fractions are closely linked to their biochemical function for the formation and stabilization of aggregates, therefore methods using different aggregate sizes may result in different POM fractions isolated. We evaluated two physical fractionation procedures to reveal whether they yield different POM fractions with respect to amount and composition, using grassland and arable soils with sandy-loam to sandy,clay-loam texture and thus low macroaggregate stability. Method I used air-dried aggregates of <2.0 mm size and a low-energy sonication for aggregate disruption, method II used field-moist aggregates <6.3 mm and a high-energy,sonication procedure for aggregate disruption. POM fractions were analyzed by elemental analysis (C, N) and CPMAS 13C-NMR spectroscopy. With both methods, about similar proportions of the SOM are isolated as free or occluded POM, respectively. The free- and occluded-POM fractions obtained with method I are also rather similar in C and N concentration and composition as shown by 13C-NMR spectroscopy. Method II isolates a free- and occluded-POM fraction with significantly different C and N concentrations. NMR spectra revealed significant differences in the chemical composition of both fractions from method II, with the occluded POM having lower amounts of O-alkyl C and higher amounts of aryl C and alkyl C than the free POM. Due to the use of larger, field-moist aggregates with minimized sample pretreatment, two distinctly different POM fractions are isolated with method II, likely to be more closely linked to their biochemical function for the formation and stabilization of aggregates. High-energy sonication as in method II also disrupts small microaggregates <63 µm and releases fine intraaggregate POM. This fraction seems to be a significant component of occluded POM, that allows a differentiation between free and occluded POM in sandy soils with significant microaggregation. It can be concluded, that microaggregation in arable soils with sandy texture is responsible for the storage of a more degraded occluded POM, that conversely supports the stabilization of fine microaggregates. Ein Vergleich zweier Methoden zur Isolierung von freier und okkludierter partikulärer organischer Substanz Partikuläres organisches Material (POM) wird im Hinblick auf die Landnutzung als sensitive Fraktion der organischen Bodensubstanz (SOM) angesehen, aber die unterschiedlichen Methoden seiner Isolierung erschweren den Vergleich zwischen verschiedenen Studien. Wir haben zwei physikalische Fraktionierungsmethoden ausgewertet, um zu zeigen, ob sie im Hinblick auf Menge und Zusammensetzung zu unterschiedlichen POM-Fraktionen führen. Hierfür wurden Proben von Grünland- und Ackerböden verwendet. Für Methode I wurden luftgetrocknete Aggregate der Größe <2 mm verwendet, zu deren Zerstörung eine Ultraschallbehandlung mit geringem Energieeintrag eingesetzt wurde. Für Methode II wurden feldfeuchte Aggregate der Größe <6.3 mm und eine Ultraschallbehandlung mit vergleichsweise hoher Energie zur Aggregatzerstörung herangezogen. Mit beiden Methoden konnten zwei POM-Gruppen gewonnen werden: (1) freies POM und (2) in Bodenaggregaten eingeschlossenes POM. Die POM-Fraktionen wurden mittels Elementanalyse (C, N) und CPMAS- 13C-NMR,Spektroskopie untersucht. Methode I zeigte im Hinblick auf Menge und Zusammensetzung nur sehr geringe Unterschiede zwischen freien und okkludierten POM-Fraktionen. Methode II isolierte freie und okkludierte POM-Fraktionen mit signifikant unterschiedlichen C- und N-Konzentrationen. Auch die NMR-Spektren zeigten Unterschiede in der chemischen Zusammensetzung der mit Methode II gewonnenen Fraktionen, die sich in signifikant geringeren O-Alkyl-C-Gehalten bei höheren Aryl-C- und Alkyl-C-Gehalten des okkludierten POM nachweisen ließen. Die Verwendung von größeren, feldfeuchten Aggregaten und die Minimierung der Probenvorbehandlung führt zu einer besseren Differenzierung beider POM-Fraktionen, die wahrscheinlich ihre biologische Funktion besser widerspiegelt. Zusätzlich führt eine Ultraschall-Behandlung mit hohem Energieeintrag zur Zerstörung von kleinen Mikroaggregaten <63 µm und damit zur Freisetzung von feinem Intraaggregat-POM. Diese Fraktion scheint in sandigen Böden mit niedriger Makroaggregat-Stabilität aussagekräftiger zwischen freier und okkludierter POM unterscheiden zu können. Folglich ist eine an das Bodenmaterial angepasste Probenvorbehandlung und Fraktionierungsmethode entscheidend, um eine präzise Charakterisierung der POM-Fraktionen zu gewährleisten. [source] Status of HTS Data Mining ApproachesMOLECULAR INFORMATICS, Issue 4 2004Alexander Böcker Abstract High-throughput screening of large compound collections results in large sets of data. This review gives an overview of the most frequently employed computational techniques for the analysis of such data and the establishment of first QSAR models. Various methods for descriptor selection, classification and data mining are discussed. Recent trends include the application of kernel-based machine learning methods for the design of focused libraries and compilation of target-family biased compound collections. [source] Synthesis and thermal degradation kinetics of cellulose estersPOLYMERS FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, Issue 7 2003M. Sairam Abstract Polymers that are biodegradable currently achieve high interest in material science since they offer reductions of landfill space during waste management as well as new end-user benefits in various fields of applications. In this work, cellulose esters such as cellulose benzoate, cellulose succinate and cellulose cinnamate were prepared using dimethylaminopyridine along with dimethylaminopyridine-p-toluene sulfonic acid catalyst. Films of cellulose esters were cast from solution. Cellulose esters were characterized by spectral methods such as infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, thermal method such as thermogravimetric analysis. Various methods of kinetic analysis were compared in the case of thermal degradation of the cellulose and cellulose esters. Copyright© 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The Decomposition of some RDX and HMX Based Materials in the One Dimensional Time to Explosion Apparatus.PROPELLANTS, EXPLOSIVES, PYROTECHNICS, Issue 1 2007Part 2. Abstract Various methods of assessment have been applied to the One Dimensional Time to Explosion (ODTX) apparatus and experiments with the aim of allowing an estimate of the comparative violence of the explosion event to be made. Non-mechanical methods used were a simple visual inspection, measuring the increase in the void volume of the anvils following an explosion and measuring the velocity of the sound produced by the explosion over 1 metre. Mechanical methods used included monitoring piezo-electric devices inserted in the frame of the machine and measuring the rotational velocity of a rotating bar placed on the top of the anvils after it had been displaced by the shock wave. This last method, which resembles original Hopkinson Bar experiments, seemed the easiest to apply and analyse, giving relative rankings of violence and the possibility of the calculation of a "detonation" pressure. [source] Integrating education into primary care quality and cost improvement at an academic medical centerTHE JOURNAL OF CONTINUING EDUCATION IN THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS, Issue 4 2006R. Van Harrison PhD Abstract Introduction: In 1996 the University of Michigan Health System created the Guidelines Utilization, Implementation, Development, and Evaluation Studies (GUIDES) unit to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of primary care for common medical problems. GUIDES's primary functions are to oversee the development of evidence-based, practical clinical guidelines for common medical conditions; measure and provide feedback on physicians' performance; and facilitate systemic changes to support appropriate care. Various methods are used to improve care, including evidence reviews, formal education, informal clinical "opinion leaders," feedback, reminders, and procedure changes. Twenty-four common medical conditions have been addressed through this process. More than 30 measures of clinical performance have been developed and reported. Methods: This case study describes a systematic, multifaceted program to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of primary care. Results: Illustrative results for clinical performance are presented for 2 measures of chronic care, 2 measures of preventive care, and 2 measures of acute care. All 6 measures show general improvement in performance across years, with performance near or above the National Committee for Quality Assurance's 90th percentile for Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set measures. Discussion: A systematic approach involving all relevant components of a health system integrates the synthesis of information, education about the information and how to implement it, and addressing operational barriers. Benefits include a curriculum that is shared across faculty, residents, and medical students and more uniform quality of care that faculty model for physicians-in-training. [source] REVIEW ARTICLE: Status of Contraceptive VaccinesAMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 1 2009Rajesh K. Naz Problem, This is a review of anti-sperm contraceptive vaccines (CV), and synthesis of human scFv antibodies that can be used as immunocontraceptives. Method of study, Various methods of proteomics and genomics, peptide synthesis, phage display technology, and antibody engineering were used to obtain multi-epitope vaccines and human scFv antibodies from immunoinfertile and vasectomized men. The present review primarily focuses on the effect of multi-epitope vaccines and Izumo on fertility, and synthesis and characterization of sperm specific human scFv antibodies. Results, The immunization with Izumo peptides causes a contraceptive effect in female mice. The efficacy is enhanced by combination vaccination, including peptides based on other sperm antigens. Using phage display technology, we were able to synthesize at least four novel scFv antibodies with unique complementarity determining regions (CDRs) that reacted with specific fertility-related sperm antigens. These antibodies inhibited human sperm function in vitro, and their immunocontraceptive effect in vivo by these antibodies is currently being investigated. Conclusion, The multi-epitope vaccines may provide an efficacious and viable approach to contraception. The human scFv antibodies, if they block fertility in vivo, may provide unique and novel immunocontraceptives, the first of its kind for human use. The multi-epitope CV and preformed engineered antibodies of defined specificity may obliterate the concern related to inter-individual variability of the immune response. [source] pOp6/LhGR: a stringently regulated and highly responsive dexamethasone-inducible gene expression system for tobaccoTHE PLANT JOURNAL, Issue 6 2005Marketa Samalova Summary We describe pOp/LhGR, a dexamethasone-inducible derivative of the pOp/LhG4 transcription activation system, and its use in tobacco to regulate expression of uidA (encoding , -glucuronidase; GUS) and the cytokinin-biosnythetic gene ipt. The pOp/LhGR system exhibited stringent regulation and strong induced phenotypes in soil and tissue culture. In conjunction with an improved target promoter, pOp6, that carries six copies of an optimized lac operator sequence the pOp6/LhGR system directed induced GUS activities that exceeded those obtained with pOp/LhG4 or the CaMV 35S promoter but without increased uninduced activity. A single dose of dexamethasone was sufficient to direct cytotoxic levels of ipt expression in soil-grown plants although uninduced plants grew normally throughout a complete life cycle. In vitro, induced transcripts were detectable within an hour of dexamethasone application and 1 nm dexamethasone was sufficient for half maximal induction of GUS activity. Various methods of dexamethasone application were successfully applied under tissue culture and greenhouse conditions. We observed no inhibitory effects of dexamethasone or LhGR on plant development even with the highest concentrations of inducer, although tobacco seedlings were adversely affected by ethanol used as a solvent for dexamethasone stock solutions. The pOp/LhGR system provides a highly sensitive, efficient, and tightly regulated chemically inducible transgene expression system for tobacco plants. [source] Ectopic Beats in Heart Rate Variability Analysis: Effects of Editing on Time and Frequency Domain MeasuresANNALS OF NONINVASIVE ELECTROCARDIOLOGY, Issue 1 2001Mirja A. Salo M.Sc. Background: Various methods can be used to edit biological and technical artefacts in heart rate variability (HRV), but there is relatively little information on the effects of such editing methods on HRV. Methods: The effects of editing on HRV analysis were studied using R-R interval data of 10 healthy subjects and 10 patients with a previous myocardial infarction (Ml). R-R interval tachograms of verified sinus beats were analyzed from short-term (,5 min) and long-term (,24 hours) recordings by eliminating different amounts of real R-R intervals. Three editing methods were applied to these segments: (1) interpolation of degree zero, (2) interpolation of degree one, and (3) deletion without replacement. Results: In time domain analysis of short-term data, the standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (SDANN) was least affected by editing, and 30%-50% of the data could be edited by all the three methods without a significant error (< 5%). In the frequency domain analysis, the method of editing resulted in remarkably different changes and errors for both the high-frequency (HF) and the low-frequency (LF) spectral components. The editing methods also yielded in different results in healthy subjects and AMI patients. In 24-hour HRV analysis, up to 50% could be edited by all methods without an error larger than 5% in the analysis of the standard deviation of normal to normal intervals (SDNN). Both interpolation methods also performed well in the editing of the long-term power spectral components for 24-hour data, but with the deletion method, only 5% of the data could be edited without a significant error. Conclusions: The amount and type of editing R-R interval data have remarkably different effects on various HRV indices. There is no universal method for editing ectopic beats that could be used in both the time-domain and the frequency-domain analysis of HRV. A.N.E. 2001;6(1):5,17 [source] Fluid flow in an impacting symmetrical tee junction: I single-phase flow and experimentalASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 4 2009A. P. Doherty Abstract Experiments were conducted on single-phase fluid flow in a horizontal 90° symmetrical impacting tee junction of 0.026 m i.d. The impacting geometry was chosen because, unlike the combining tee, the pressure loss of the system was not amenable to modelling. Various methods of presentation of the junction pressure drop were attempted and a simple dimensionless model suggested based on the inlet Reynolds number and the equivalent length parameter le/d. Copyright © 2009 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Are solar cycles predictable?ASTRONOMISCHE NACHRICHTEN, Issue 10 2007M. Schüssler Abstract Various methods (or recipes) have been proposed to predict future solar activity levels , with mixed success. Among these, some precursor methods based upon quantities determined around or a few years before solar minimum have provided rather high correlations with the strength of the following cycles. Recently, data assimilation with an advection-dominated (flux-transport) dynamo model has been proposed as a predictive tool, yielding remarkably high correlation coefficients. After discussing the potential implications of these results and the criticism that has been raised, we study the possible physical origin(s) of the predictive skill provided by precursor and other methods. It is found that the combination of the overlap of solar cycles and their amplitude-dependent rise time (Waldmeier's rule) introduces correlations in the sunspot number (or area) record, which account for the predictive skill of many precursor methods. This explanation requires no direct physical relation between the precursor quantity and the dynamo mechanism (in the sense of the Babcock-Leighton scheme or otherwise). (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] An evaluation of a hand-held electrical resistance meter for the diagnosis of bovine subclinical mastitis in late lactation under Australian conditionsAUSTRALIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 9 2000AG SEGUYA Objective To assess the ability of a hand-held device to differentiate between infected and noninfected bovine mammary glands according to the electrical resistance of milk, under Australian conditions. Design A cross-sectional study. Procedure Milk samples were collected from 236 quarters of 60 cows selected from a commercial dairy herd with a high prevalence of mastitis. The true infection status of these quarters was determined using bacteriology. Various methods were used in an attempt to relate the electrical resistance of milk from each quarter to the presence or absence of infection in that quarter. Results Although the electrical resistance of milk from infected quarters was generally lower than that of noninfected quarters, the overlap of readings between the two populations limited the ability of this device to indicate accurately whether a quarter was infected. The use of methods comparing the readings from each of the four quarters of a single cow did not allow the reliable detection of infected cows. Conclusion Although this device may have some practical advantages in comparison with some other methods of diagnosing subclinical mastitis, the predictive value of the method was generally poor. [source] Mixture Generalized Linear Models for Multiple Interval Mapping of Quantitative Trait Loci in Experimental CrossesBIOMETRICS, Issue 2 2009Zehua Chen Summary Quantitative trait loci mapping in experimental organisms is of great scientific and economic importance. There has been a rapid advancement in statistical methods for quantitative trait loci mapping. Various methods for normally distributed traits have been well established. Some of them have also been adapted for other types of traits such as binary, count, and categorical traits. In this article, we consider a unified mixture generalized linear model (GLIM) for multiple interval mapping in experimental crosses. The multiple interval mapping approach was proposed by Kao, Zeng, and Teasdale (1999, Genetics152, 1203,1216) for normally distributed traits. However, its application to nonnormally distributed traits has been hindered largely by the lack of an efficient computation algorithm and an appropriate mapping procedure. In this article, an effective expectation,maximization algorithm for the computation of the mixture GLIM and an epistasis-effect-adjusted multiple interval mapping procedure is developed. A real data set, Radiata Pine data, is analyzed and the data structure is used in simulation studies to demonstrate the desirable features of the developed method. [source] Origin and Distribution of Hydrogen Sulfide in Oil-Bearing Basins, ChinaACTA GEOLOGICA SINICA (ENGLISH EDITION), Issue 6 2009ZHU Guangyou Abstract: The concentration of hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S) varies greatly in the oil-bearing basins of China, from zero to 90%. At present, oil and gas reservoirs with high H2S concentration have been discovered in three basins, viz. the Bohai Bay Basin, Sichuan Basin and the Tarim Basin, whereas natural gas with low H2S concentration has been found in the Ordos Basin, the Songliao Basin and the Junggar Basin. Studies suggest that in China H2S origin types are very complex. In the carbonate reservoir of the Sichuan Basin, the Ordos Basin and the Tarim Basin, as well as the carbonate-dominated reservoir in the Luojia area of the Jiyang depression in the Bohai Bay Basin, Wumaying areas of the Huanghua depression, and Zhaolanzhuang areas of the Jizhong depression, the H2S is of Thermochemical Sulfate Reduction (TSR) origin. The H2S is of Bacterial Sulphate Reduction (BSR) origin deduced from the waterflooding operation in the Changheng Oilfield (placanticline oil fields) in the Songliao Basin. H2S originates from thermal decomposition of sulfur-bearing crude oil in the heavy oil area in the Junggar Basin and in the Liaohe heavy oil steam pilot area in the western depression of the Bohai Bay Basin. The origin types are most complex, including TSR and thermal decomposition of sulfcompounds among other combinations of causes. Various methods have been tried to identify the origin mechanism and to predict the distribution of H2S. The origin identification methods for H2S mainly comprise sulfur and carbon isotopes, reservoir petrology, particular biomarkers, and petroleum geology integrated technologies; using a combination of these applications can allow the accurate identification of the origins of H2S. The prediction technologies for primary and secondary origin of H2S have been set up separately. [source] Anwendungen der Magnetresonanz zur Untersuchung von Wasser-, Temperatur- und Porenverteilung bei lebensmittelverfahrenstechnischen ProzessenCHEMIE-INGENIEUR-TECHNIK (CIT), Issue 4 2004M. Regier Dr.-Ing. Abstract Es werden verschiedene Methoden der kernmagnetischen Resonanz (NMR) und ihrer Anwendung zur Bestimmung von Wasser-, Temperaturverteilungen und Selbstdiffusionskoeffizienten im Verlauf von Prozessen im Bereich der Lebensmittelverfahrenstechnik vorgestellt. Ausgehend von den physikalischen Grundlagen der Magnetresonanz werden verschiedene Anwendungen gezeigt, die das Potenzial besitzen, zum tieferen Verständnis der verfahrenstechnischen Prozesse beizutragen: Beispielhaft wird die Bestimmung von Wasserverteilungen bei der Rehydratation von getrockneten Proben, die Ermittlung von Temperaturverteilungen bei der Mikrowellenerwärmung und von beobachtungszeitabhängigen Selbstdiffusionskoeffizienten bei der Mikrowellen-Vakuumtrocknung gezeigt. Letztere können dazu genutzt werden, um weitere Aussagen über die innere Gewebestruktur wie Tortuosität und Porenradien zu erlangen. Applications of Magnetic Resonance for Investigating Water-, Temperature- and Poredistributions in Food Process Engineering Various methods of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and their application for determinig water- and temperature distributions as well as self diffusion coefficients during food processing operations are presented. Starting from the physical basics of the magnetic resonance, various NMR applications are shown, which may contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the food processes: Presented examples are the determination of water distributions during the rehydration of dried samples, of temperature distributions during a microwave heating process and of self diffusion coefficients during microwave vacuum drying. These observation time dependent self diffusion coefficients may be used to receive further information about the internal tissue structure, like tortuosity and pore radii. [source] Survey of the pre-school child health surveillance programme in SwedenACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 2000R Kornfält A survey of the programme for developmental surveillance in the Child Health Centres (CHCs) in Sweden was performed using a questionnaire administered to the Chief Medical Officers (CMO) of the Child Health Services. The questionnaire asked about methods used for auditory examination, developmental surveillance and identification of disturbances in mother-child interaction. Activities for health promotion concerning breastfeeding, non-smoking and allergy prevention were also queried. Thirty-four CMOs representing 1731 CHCs and 645000 children answered the questionnaire. The reply rate was 81%. Various methods of auditory examination are offered all infants and children in Sweden. The national guidelines for health supervision are followed fairly closely by all. Screening for disturbances in attention, motor development and perception (DAMP) is performed by all but four districts, with various methods, resources and degrees of co-operation with school health services. Support in mother-child interaction is considered very important and new methods to identify and treat disturbances are gradually introduced. Breastfeeding is encouraged; breast milk is the main source of food for 67% of babies at 4 mo of age. Activities to stop or diminish use of tobacco are ongoing everywhere, as are programmes to identify children at risk of developing allergies and for allergy prevention. Thus, the Child Health Services maintain a high standard and are ambitious about introducing new methods and ideas. [source] Reconstructing ripeness I: A study of constructive engagement in protracted social conflictsCONFLICT RESOLUTION QUARTERLY, Issue 1 2008Peter T. Coleman What moves people to work with each other rather than against each other when locked into destructive, long-term conflicts? Ripeness theory has been a useful starting point for understanding such motives, but has limited explanatory power under conditions of intractable conflict. This article is the first of a two-part series presenting the findings from a study that explored various methods of eliciting constructive engagement from stakeholders through interviews with expert scholarpractitioners working with protracted conflicts. A grounded theory analysis was applied to the interviews to allow new insights into constructive conflict engagement to emerge from the data. Our objective was to develop more robust theories and practices. A dynamical systems synthesis of the findings is presented, and its implications for reconceptualizing ripeness are discussed. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||