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Various Periods (various + period)
Selected AbstractsThreatened obligatory riverine fishes in human-modified Polish riversECOLOGY OF FRESHWATER FISH, Issue 1-2 2000T. Penczak Abstract , The fate of obligatory riverine fish species (rheophils), which are the objects of anglers' exploitation (chub ,Leuciscus cephalus, nase ,Chondrostoma nasus, barbel ,Barbus barbus, gudgeon ,Gobio gobio), and brown trout (Salmo trutta m. fario) and grayling (Thymallus thymallus) (in the Gwda River basin only), were investigated in large alluvial rivers (Pilica and Warta) and in the medium-sized Gwda River basin. The Pilica (1973) and the Warta (1986,1987) were divided by large dams without fish ladders in their middle courses. The Gwda River was divided by only a few dams along its course, but its tributaries carrying pure water had numerous small dams that supplied water for fish farms. Other stresses influencing fish populations in these rivers were: pollution, overfishing, hydroelectric plants and bank revetments. Because the listed stresses occurred alternately and at various periods of time in these rivers, this enabled attributing the cause for extinction and reduction of the abundance and distribution. In the salmon Gwda River basin, a drastic decrease in spatial distribution and reduction of occurrence ranges of brown trout, grayling and barbel was evident in respect to the first study period (1980s) in the 1990s. In the large, alluvial Pilica River, nase, barbel and dace are on the edge of extinction and chub and gudgeon are vulnerable. In the Warta's tailwater, barbel is an extinct species, and chub, dace and gudgeon are vulnerable ones. In a site in the backwater, none of the above mentioned species became extinct, but their abundance and occurrence frequency decreased a bit in respect to the pre-impoundment period. Roach-generalist, which was used in this research as a "control" species, increased in abundance in all 3 rivers. These investigations univocally proved that the dams cause catastrophic stress for obligatory riverine species., [source] Dentin surface treatment using a non-thermal argon plasma brush for interfacial bonding improvement in composite restorationEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORAL SCIENCES, Issue 5 2010Andy C. Ritts Ritts AC, Li H, Yu Q, Xu C, Yao X, Hong L, Wang Y. Dentin surface treatment using a non-thermal argon plasma brush for interfacial bonding improvement in composite restoration. Eur J Oral Sci 2010; 118: 510,516. © 2010 Eur J Oral Sci The objective of this study was to investigate the treatment effects of non-thermal atmospheric gas plasmas on dentin surfaces used for composite restoration. Extracted unerupted human third molars were prepared by removing the crowns and etching the exposed dentin surfaces with 35% phosphoric acid gel. The dentin surfaces were treated using a non-thermal atmospheric argon plasma brush for various periods of time. The molecular changes of the dentin surfaces were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry/attenuated total reflectance (FTIR/ATR), and an increase in the amount of carbonyl groups was detected on plasma-treated dentin surfaces. Adper Single Bond Plus adhesive and Filtek Z250 dental composite were applied as directed. To evaluate the dentin/composite interfacial bonding, the teeth thus prepared were sectioned into micro-bars and analyzed using tensile testing. Student,Newman,Keuls tests showed that the bonding strength of the composite restoration to peripheral dentin was significantly increased (by 64%) after 30 s of plasma treatment. However, the bonding strength to plasma-treated inner dentin did not show any improvement. It was found that plasma treatment of the peripheral dentin surface for up to 100 s resulted in an increase in the interfacial bonding strength, while prolonged plasma treatment of dentin surfaces (e.g. 5 min) resulted in a decrease in the interfacial bonding strength. [source] Structural Evolution during Reactive Mechanical Milling of TiC/Ti-Al Nanocomposites,ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 7 2009Dongdong Gu The microstructural development of TiC/Ti-Al nanocomposites prepared by mechanical milling of Ti, graphite, and Al powders is investigated. The structures and morphologies of the nanocomposites milled at various periods are determined by XRD, SEM, TEM and EDX-spectroscopy techniques. The mechanisms for the formation of TiC nanoparticles and Ti-Al solid solution are elucidated based on these experimental results. [source] Are diatoms good integrators of temporal variability in stream water quality?FRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2008ISABELLE LAVOIE Summary 1. Although diatoms have been used for many decades for river monitoring around the world, studies showing evidence that diatoms integrate temporal variability in water chemistry are scarce. 2. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the response of the Eastern Canadian Diatom Index (IDEC: Indice Diatomées de l'Est du Canada) with respect to temporal water chemistry variability using three different spatio-temporal data sets. 3. Along a large phosphorus gradient, the IDEC was highly correlated with averaged water chemistry data. Along within-stream phosphorus gradients, the IDEC integrated phosphorus over various periods of time, depending on the trophic status of the site studied (Boyer, Nicolet or Ste. Anne river) and variability in nutrient concentration. 4. In the Ste. Anne River, where nutrient concentrations were low and generally stable, an input of phosphorus induced a rapid change in diatom community structure and IDEC value within the following week. In the mesotrophic Nicolet River, the observed integration period was approximately 2 weeks. Diatom communities in the eutrophic Boyer River appeared to be adapted to frequent and significant fluctuations in nutrient concentrations. In this system, the IDEC therefore showed a slower response to short term fluctuations and integrated nutrient concentrations over a period of 5 weeks. 5. Our results suggest that the integration period varies as a function of trophic status and nutrient concentration variability in the streams. Oligotrophic streams are more sensitive to nutrient variations and their diatom communities are directly altered by nutrient increase, while diatom communities of eutrophic rivers are less sensitive to nutrient fluctuations and major variations take a longer time to be integrated into index values. 6. The longer integration period in the eutrophic environment may be attributed to the complexity of the diatom community. The results from this study showed that the diversity and evenness of the communities increased with trophic status. [source] Moisture sorption isotherm and xerophilic moulds associated with dried cocoyam chips in storage in NigeriaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 5 2008J. Obeta Ugwuanyi Summary Extended storage of cocoyams (Colocasia antiquorum and Colocasia esculenta) is achieved in parts of Nigeria by processing them into smoked and dried chips. In this study, cocoyam chips were collected from parts of Nigeria at the end of drying, at various periods of storage and from markets, and analysed for moisture content, moisture sorption characteristics and xerophilic moulds. Moisture content of chips ranged from 7.07 ± 1.1% for freshly dried samples to 16 ± 2.2% for samples stored up to 8 months. Six mould species from four groups of the genus Aspergillus (including five xerophiles) identified as Aspergillus fumigatus, Eurotium repens, Eurotium amstelodami, Eurotium chevalieri and Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger and Mucor sp. were isolated. The variety of moulds increased with storage and moisture content of samples. Moisture sorption in dried chips showed type II sigmoidal behaviour. Wood smoke significantly protected chips from mould colonization, but in cooperation with reduced water activity. Simple and inexpensive storage of freshly dried samples in airtight bags led to prolonged storage of up to 14 months without deterioration. [source] Effects of cyclic compression and thermal aging on dynamic properties of neoprene rubber bearingsJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 3 2008Hsoung-Wei Chou Abstract The dynamic properties of rubber bearings frequently used as isolators in structures could be significantly deteriorated because of the change of microstructure in rubber caused by cyclic compression and thermal aging. As a result, a catastrophic failure of bridges and buildings unexpectedly occurs when they are subjected to earthquake attack. Here, the dynamic properties of neoprene rubber bearings before and after different cycles of compressive loading or various periods of thermal aging were first measured and compared to each other. On the basis of the experimental results, the effects of cyclic compression and thermal aging on the stiffness, energy absorption, and equivalent viscous damping coefficient of neoprene rubber bearings are investigated. It is found that the deterioration of dynamic properties of neoprene rubber bearings caused by either cyclic compression or by thermal aging is significant and should be taken into account in designing rubber bearings. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. JAppl Polym Sci, 2008 [source] Investigation into possible DNA damaging effects of ultrasound in occupationally exposed medical personnel , the alkaline comet assay studyJOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY, Issue 3 2005Verica Garaj-Vrhovac Abstract In the present paper the possible DNA damaging effects of ultrasound in occupationally exposed medical personnel were investigated using the alkaline comet assay. The extent of DNA migration in peripheral blood leucocytes was measured. Parameters of the comet assay were studied in 30 medical workers occupationally exposed to ultrasound and in 30 corresponding unexposed control subjects. It was found that the subjects who were occupationally exposed to ultrasound for various periods of time showed a highly significant increase in levels of DNA damage compared with the control. The results obtained have confirmed the usefulness of the alkaline comet assay as a sensitive biodosimetric method, reflecting the current level of DNA damage and[sol ]or repair in peripheral blood leucocytes of ultrasound-exposed subjects. In spite of their limitations, the results of the present investigation indicate that individuals occupationally exposed to ultrasound may experience an increased genotoxic risk, emphasizing the need for more research into the nature and extent of the biological consequences to medical personnel working with ultrasonic equipment. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Floristic turnover in Iceland from 15 to 6 Ma , extracting biogeographical signals from fossil floral assemblagesJOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY, Issue 9 2007Friðgeir Grímsson Abstract Aim, This study aims to document the floristic changes that occurred in Iceland between 15 and 6 Ma and to establish the dispersal mechanisms for the plant taxa encountered. Using changing patterns of dispersal, two factors controlling floristic changes are tested. Possible factors are (1) climate change, and (2) the changing biogeography of Iceland over the time interval studied; that is, the presence or absence of a Miocene North Atlantic Land Bridge. Location, The North Atlantic. Methods, Species lists of fossil plants from Iceland in the time period 15 to 6 Ma were compiled using published data and new data. Closest living analogues were used to establish dispersal properties for the fossil taxa. Dispersal mechanisms of fossil plants were then used to reconstruct how Iceland was colonized during various periods. Results, Miocene floras of Iceland (15,6 Ma) show relatively high floristic turnover from the oldest floras towards the youngest; and few taxa from the oldest floras persist in the younger floras. The frequencies of the various dispersal mechanisms seen in the 15-Ma floras are quite different from those recorded in the 6-Ma floras, and there is a gradual change in the prevailing mode of dispersal from short-distance anemochory and dyschory to long-distance anemochory. Two mechanisms can be used to explain changing floral composition: (1) climate change, and (2) the interaction between the dispersal mechanisms of plants and the increasing isolation of proto-Iceland during the Miocene. Main conclusions, Dispersal mechanisms can be used to extract palaeogeographic signals from fossil floras. The composition of floras and dispersal mechanisms indicate that Iceland was connected both to Greenland and to Europe in the early Middle Miocene, allowing transcontinental migration. The change in prevalence of dispersal modes from 15 to 6 Ma appears to reflect the break-up of a land bridge and the increasing isolation of Iceland after 12 Ma. Concurrent gradual cooling and isolation caused changes in species composition. Specifically, the widening of the North Atlantic Ocean prevented taxa with limited dispersal capability from colonizing Iceland, while climate cooling led to the extinction of thermophilous taxa. [source] Evaluating predictive performance of value-at-risk models in emerging markets: a reality checkJOURNAL OF FORECASTING, Issue 2 2006Yong Bao Abstract We investigate the predictive performance of various classes of value-at-risk (VaR) models in several dimensions,unfiltered versus filtered VaR models, parametric versus nonparametric distributions, conventional versus extreme value distributions, and quantile regression versus inverting the conditional distribution function. By using the reality check test of White (2000), we compare the predictive power of alternative VaR models in terms of the empirical coverage probability and the predictive quantile loss for the stock markets of five Asian economies that suffered from the 1997,1998 financial crisis. The results based on these two criteria are largely compatible and indicate some empirical regularities of risk forecasts. The Riskmetrics model behaves reasonably well in tranquil periods, while some extreme value theory (EVT)-based models do better in the crisis period. Filtering often appears to be useful for some models, particularly for the EVT models, though it could be harmful for some other models. The CaViaR quantile regression models of Engle and Manganelli (2004) have shown some success in predicting the VaR risk measure for various periods, generally more stable than those that invert a distribution function. Overall, the forecasting performance of the VaR models considered varies over the three periods before, during and after the crisis. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Effect of Lignin on the Heat and Light Resistance of Lignocellulosic FibersMACROMOLECULAR MATERIALS & ENGINEERING, Issue 4 2007Narendra Reddy Abstract The existence of lignin in lignocellulosic fibers increases the loss in breaking tenacity and elongation of fibers when they are exposed to heat and light. Delignification by sulfonation helps to remove some of the lignin from the fibers without affecting the breaking tenacity. The delignified fibers have higher resistance to heat and light exposure compared to the raw fibers. The effect of lignin on the heat and light resistance of kenaf and cornhusk fibers with three different lignin contents was studied in comparison to cotton at various periods of heat and light exposure. The changes in the breaking tenacity, breaking elongation and yellowness of the samples were studied. [source] Time-Course and Mechanisms of Restored Vascular Relaxation by Reduced Salt Intake and Angiotensin II Infusion in Rats Fed a High-Salt DietMICROCIRCULATION, Issue 3 2009SCOTT T. MCEWEN ABSTRACT Objective: This study determined the mechanisms and time-course of recovery of vascular relaxation in middle cerebral arteries (MCAs) of salt-fed Sprague-Dawley rats returned to a low-salt (LS) diet (0.4% NaCl) or infused with low-dose angiotensin II (ANG II). Methods: Rats were fed a high-salt (HS) diet (4% NaCl) for 3 days or 4 weeks before returning to an LS diet for various periods. Other rats fed a HS diet (HS+ANG II) received a chronic (3 days) intravenous (i.v.) infusion of a low dose of ANG II (5 ng kg,1 min,1) to prevent salt-induced ANG II suppression. Results: The HS diet eliminated the increase in cerebral blood flow in response to acetylcholine (ACh) infusion and the relaxation of MCA in response to ACh, iloprost, cholera toxin, and reduced PO2. Recovery of vascular relaxation was slow, requiring at least 2 weeks of the LS diet, regardless of the duration of exposure to a HS diet. Hypoxic dilation was mediated by cyclo-oxygenase metabolites and ACh-induced dilation was mediated via nitric oxide in LS rats and in HS rats returned to the LS diet or receiving ANG II infusion. Conclusions: Returning to a LS diet for 2 weeks or chronic 3-day ANG II infusion restores the mechanisms that normally mediate cerebral vascular relaxation. [source] Structural relaxation and evolution of yield stress in epoxy glass aged under shear strain,POLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 1 2005Hiroshi Kawakami Hollow cylindrical specimens of annealed epoxy glass were twisted and then aged for various periods of time under shear strain. At the end of the aging process, we twisted the specimens again to determine the stress,strain relations. For specimens aged under a shear strain of 0.005 or 0.01, the stress relaxation behavior was almost independent of the amount of strain imposed, and the value of stress at the upper yield point, regardless of aging time, was almost the same as that of the annealed specimen. On the other hand, for specimens aged under a strain of 0.02 or 0.04, the stress relaxation behavior depended on the value of the strain applied, and the value of stress at the upper yield point first decreased and subsequently increased with increasing aging time. These results led us to the following conclusions: If epoxy glass is strained largely, the originally stable structure becomes unstable. Also, when epoxy glass is aged under strain, the stability of the structure continues to decrease for a short period of time after deformation ceases, and then increases with increasing aging time. POLYM. ENG. SCI. 45:20,24, 2005. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers. [source] Mixing mechanism of three-tip kneading block in twin screw extrudersPOLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 1 2000Makoto Yoshinaga In recent years, twin screw extruders have been applied to various kinds of polymer processing. It has been important to find their optimum geometrical configurations and operational processing conditions for the best performance of extrusions and products. Many engineers have been evolving numerical and the experimental methods to characterize the mixing performance for twin screw extruders. We have carried out three-dimensional flow simulations of kneading blocks in intermeshing co-rotating twin screw extruders by using the finite element method to quantify their ability in distributive and dispersive mixing. We discuss their performance in distributive mixing for three different type of kneading blocks in terms of the residence time distribution and the nearest distance between markers at various periods of time, by using the marker tracking method. Those numerical techniques and applications of mixing indices have enabled us to quantify and evaluate their abilities in distributive mixing of kneading blocks in twin screw extruders. [source] Relaxation kinetics in thiophene/3-alkylthiophene random copolymersPOLYMER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 11 2004Aleksandra Buzarovska Abstract The relaxation kinetics of several thiophene/3-alkylthiophene (3-methylthiophene and 3-octylthiophene) random copolymers have been investigated using the cyclic voltammetric method. The first voltammograms, obtained after the polymer films were maintained at potentials corresponding to their neutral state for various periods of time, have been analyzed according to the procedure developed by Odin et al. Considerable suppression of the relaxation kinetics was achieved in copolymers containing thiophene rings substituted with longer alkyl groups (octyl). Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Denaturant sensitive regions in creatine kinase identified by hydrogen/deuterium exchangeRAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY, Issue 11 2005Hortense Mazon The GdmHCl-induced unfolding of creatine kinase (CK) has been studied by hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) exchange combined with mass spectrometry. MM-CK unfolded for various periods in different denaturant concentrations was pulsed-labeled with deuterium to identify different conformational intermediate states. For all denaturation times or GdmHCl concentrations, we observed variable proportions of only two species. The low-mass envelope of isotope peaks corresponds to a species that has gained about 10 deuteriums more than native CK, and the high-mass envelope to a completely deuterated species. To localize precisely the unfolded regions in the states highly populated during denaturation, the protein was digested with two proteases (pepsin and type XIII protease) after H/D exchange and rapid quenching of the reaction. The two sets of fragments obtained were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry to determine the deuterium level in each fragment. Bimodal distributions of deuterium were found for most peptides, indicating that these regions were either folded or unfolded. This behavior is consistent with cooperative, localized unfolding. However, we observed a monomodal distribution of deuterium in two regions (1,12 and 162,186). We conclude that the increment of mass observed in the low-mass species of the intact protein (+10,Da) has its origin in these two segments. These regions, which are very sensitive to low GdmHCl concentrations, are involved in the monomer,monomer interface of CK and their perturbation is likely to weaken the dimeric structure. At higher denaturant concentration, this would induce dissociation of the dimer. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] FACTORS INHIBITING DEFLATIONARY BIAS IN CURRENCY BOARD ECONOMIES: EVIDENCE FROM THE COLONIAL ERAAUSTRALIAN ECONOMIC HISTORY REVIEW, Issue 2 2006Article first published online: 16 JUN 200, Malcolm Treadgold colonial economies; currency board; deflationary bias; economic growth A traditional criticism of currency boards is that they impart a deflationary bias to growing economies. Three factors, however, may inhibit the bias: increases in the velocity of money; increases in the monetary base, which under a currency board occur only through balance-of-payments surpluses; and increases in the money multiplier. This article investigates each of the factors in Fiji, Ghana, Jamaica and Malaya over various periods near the end of the colonial era. Except in Malaya, where the money multiplier declined, all helped prevent deflationary outcomes. In broad terms, growth in the monetary base was the most important. [source] Estimation of intragastric drug solubility in the fed state: comparison of various media with data in aspiratesBIOPHARMACEUTICS AND DRUG DISPOSITION, Issue 6 2009A. Diakidou Abstract The suitability of various media to forecast the solubility of ketoconazole and dipyridamole in the fed stomach at various periods after meal administration was evaluated. Solubilities were measured with the shake-flask method in gastric fluids aspirated 30, 60 and 120,min after administration of 500,ml Ensure plus® to healthy fasted adults, in three sets of simulated gastric fluids based on milk, and in simple aqueous buffered media. Simple aqueous buffered media vastly underestimated the intragastric solubility of model compounds in the fed state. When using undigested milk-based media, the solubilities of model compounds in aspirates were also underestimated by a factor of 2.5,27. Solubility in milk digested with pepsin was useful for estimating the intragastric solubility of ketoconazole (within 20%) but overestimated the intragastric values of dipyridamole by a factor of 2,19. For both drugs, the solubility in milk digested with pepsin and lipase predicted the solubility in aspirates collected 60,min after meal administration, whereas at other times it overestimated the intragastric solubility (by a factor of <5). Both the use of biorelevant media and simulation of intragastric digestion are necessary for the prediction of drug solubility in the fed stomach. Milk digested with pepsin and lipase enabled the estimation of the intragastric solubility of dipyridamole and ketoconazole at 1,h after meal intake. Simulation of vesicle/micellar structures seems to be key for the prediction of intragastric solubility in the fed stomach. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The frequency of metopism in Anatolian populations dated from the Neolithic to the first quarter of the 20th centuryCLINICAL ANATOMY, Issue 6 2008S. Ero Abstract Metopism, which is defined as a condition in which the two pieces of the frontal bone fail to merge in early childhood, displays varying degrees of incidence. In this study, the variation of the frequency of metopism across historical periods is investigated on the skulls of 487 adults from 12 different Ancient Anatolian populations dated to various periods of history ranging from the Neolithic to the first quarter of the 20th century. In addition, the study also examines the relationship of metopism to sex and cranial form. It is revealed that the frequency of metopism showed a relative increase across time periods in Anatolia after the Neolithic Period, with the exception of the Cevizcio,lu Çiftli,i population. However, no significant relationship was found between metopism and cranial form or sex. It is found that the frequency of metopism in Ancient Anatolia had a distribution range of 3.3,14.9%. This distribution shows that the inhabitants of Anatolia have a heterogeneous genetic make-up due to the geographical situation of Anatolia, which has been open to gene flow both in the past and at present. Clin. Anat. 21:471,478, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] BEHAVIOUR OF THE ANTI-OXIDANT DEFENCE SYSTEM AND HEME OXYGENASE-1 PROTEIN EXPRESSION IN FRUCTOSE-HYPERTENSIVE RATSCLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 8 2006Ariel H Polizio SUMMARY 1Addition of fructose to a rat diet for various periods of time leads to hypertension, hyperinsulinaemia and dyslipidaemia and provides a model for testing oxidative stress parameters in the animals. 2In the present study, oxidative stress generation, the soluble and enzymatic defence system and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) protein expression were investigated in the heart, liver and kidney of rats fed fructose for a period of 1 or 8 months. 3Compared with the control group, fructose-hypertensive rats showed increased in lipid peroxidation only in the heart after both 1 and 8 months of fructose treatment. Changes in the behaviour of the soluble and enzymatic defence system and HO-1 protein expression were different depending on the organ. Increased or unaltered activities of anti-oxidant enzymes were found in the liver and kidney, respectively. Induction of HO-1 prevented the generation of oxidative stress in the liver, where the activity of anti-oxidant defence enzymes was not reduced. Increased expression of HO-1 protein was not able to prevent the generation of oxidative stress in the heart, where fructose treatment diminished the activity of anti-oxidant enzymes. 4The results of the present study demonstrate that upregulation of HO-1 may prevent the generation of oxidative stress only when the anti-oxidant defence system is still operative. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||