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mg/dL

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	73%
Chemistry	8%
Life Sciences	8%
Polymers and Materials Science	6%
7 Other Domains	5%

Distribution within Medical Sciences

Transplantation	9%
Hematology	5%
Cardiovascular Disease	4%
Dermatology	2%
55 Other Subdomains	53%

Kinds of mg/dL

g dl

mg dl

u dl

Terms modified by mg/dL

dl measurement

dl v

Selected Abstracts

Reduced factor XII levels in patients with the antiphospholipid syndrome are associated with antibodies to factor XII

BRITISH JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2000
D. W. Jones
Antibodies to factor XII (FXII) have previously been identified in some patients who were lupus anti-coagulant-positive. The relationship between these antibodies and FXII levels appeared to be variable. The aim of the present study was to confirm the presence of antibodies to FXII in patients with well characterized antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and to establish their potential effect on levels of FXII. Forty-two patients with APS were studied; 21 patients were found to have either immunoglobulin (Ig)G or IgM antibodies to FXII by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a highly purified preparation of FXII (> 99% pure). Levels of FXII were statistically significantly lower (P = 0·02) in patients with antibodies to FXII when compared with patients without antibodies to FXII (median = 91 ,/dl, s.d. = 39·1, median = 122 ,/dl, s.d. = 41·1 respectively). Four of the 21 patients with antibodies to FXII were found to have FXII levels below the laboratory normal range. Antibodies to FXII are present in significant numbers of patients with APS and may lead to acquired FXII deficiency. [source]

Prophylaxis of central venous catheter-related thrombosis with minidose warfarin in patients treated with high-dose chemotherapy and peripheral-blood stem-cell transplantation: Retrospective analysis of 228 cancer patients

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2006
Massimo Magagnoli
Abstract Patients with a central venous catheter (CVC) undergoing high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) followed by peripheral-blood stem-cell transplantation (PBSCT) for malignancies are at high risk of thrombosis, but the use of anti-coagulant prophylaxis remains debatable in this setting of patients. We analyzed the efficacy and the safety of minidose warfarin in 228 patients in whom CVCs had been placed and who had received 292 HDC courses of therapy. The catheters remained in place for a mean of 173 (range 40,298) days. All patients received prophylactic oral warfarin in the fixed dose of 1 mg/day starting on the day of CVC insertion. Prophylaxis was interrupted during aplasia when platelet counts fell below 50,000/dL. There were no toxic deaths related to the prophylaxis. Overall there were 4 thrombotic events. Three occurrences were directly related to the catheter, while the remaining event was a deep saphenous-vein thrombosis. A number of potential predictive factors were analyzed for their impact on thrombotic events without finding any significant correlation. Four episodes of bleeding occurred, with each of these individuals having a normal INR but a platelet count below 50,000/dL. Minidose warfarin is effective and safe to use for preventing thrombotic events in this setting of patients. Am. J. Hematol. 81:1,4, 2006. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Outcomes and predicting response in anaemic chemotherapy patients treated with epoetin alfa.

INTERNAL MEDICINE JOURNAL, Issue 10 2008
4-month, A multicentre, New Zealand, open-label study in Australia
Abstract Background:, The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and clinical outcomes of erythropoietin therapy in the treatment of anaemic cancer subjects receiving chemotherapy and to examine hypochromic red blood cell measurement as an indicator of functional iron sufficiency and as a predictor of responsiveness or non-responsiveness to erythropoietin therapy. Methods:, Patients who had a non-myeloid malignancy, had Hb , 11.0 g/dL, had a life expectancy of more than 6 months, were 18 years or older, were receiving chemotherapy and would continue to be treated for at least 2 months were given s.c. epoetin alfa three times a week. Results:, Haemoglobin levels increased significantly at all time periods compared with baseline and the number of transfusions received decreased significantly at all time periods compared with baseline. Quality of life as measured by Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Anaemia showed significant increases at months 2 and 4 and there were significant improvements in the fatigue subscale at both time points (P < 0.05). Significant improvements at end-point were observed for the physical, emotional and functional well-being, and additional concern subscales (all P < 0.05). Haematocrit and reticulocytes increased significantly at end-point compared with at baseline (haematocrit 33.4 vs 28.3%, P < 0.001; reticulocytes 105.8 vs 78.6 × 109/dL, P = 0.005). The percentage of hypochromic red blood cells did not show predictive value for response to treatment status. Conclusion:, Epoetin alfa improved haemoglobin levels and quality of life in anaemic cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. [source]

Prevalence of anaemia and the contribution of functional iron deficiency in diabetes related chronic kidney disease

PRACTICAL DIABETES INTERNATIONAL (INCORPORATING CARDIABETES), Issue 3 2010
MRCP Specialist Registrar in Diabetes & Endocrinology, MS Rathi MBBS
Abstract Anaemia is often an unrecognised complication of diabetes that has an adverse effect on the progression of diabetes related complications. Anaemia predicts mortality in diabetes related chronic kidney disease (CKD). Contributors to its development include absolute and/or functional iron deficiency and erythropoietin insufficiency. This study aimed to look at the prevalence of anaemia and markers of iron deficiency in patients with diabetes related CKD. An analysis was done of the results from all patients (225 men, 93 women; mean age 70 years) attending joint diabetes,renal clinics over a 12-month period. Haemoglobin (Hb) was measured in 88%. The mean Hb was 12.6g/dl in men and 11.7g/dl in women. A total of 21.5% (11.5% men, 10% women) had Hb <11g/dl who should have anaemia management as per National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines. Among the anaemic population, CKD stage 3 was present in 25% of men and in 8% of women, with CKD stage 4 present in 20% of men and in 32% of women. Fifty-three percent had absolute iron deficiency (serum ferritin <100,g/L) and 41% had inadequate iron stores (serum ferritin between 100 and 500,g/L). Functional iron deficiency defined by serum ferritin >100,g/L and red cell hypochromasia ,6% was noted in 21.6% of anaemic patients. Anaemia is a frequent finding in patients with diabetes related CKD. A significant proportion of patients had functional iron deficiency that required iron therapy for optimisation of their iron stores before starting erythropoiesis-stimulating agents. Measurement of red cell hypochromasia is a valuable tool to detect this group of patients. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons. [source]

General medical practitioners in Pakistan fail to educate patients adequately about complications of diabetes

PRACTICAL DIABETES INTERNATIONAL (INCORPORATING CARDIABETES), Issue 2 2006
A major cause of concern for a developing country
Abstract The prevalence of diabetes in Pakistan is one of the highest reported worldwide. Proper education of patients regarding strategies to prevent complications of diabetes is an essential component of good management of diabetes. We conducted this study to determine the approach of general practitioners towards the management of diabetes. We carried out a cross-sectional survey of 100 randomly selected GPs from urban cities of Pakistan. A rigorously developed questionnaire was administered and contained questions on (1) diagnostic criteria, (2) health education, and management of a patient by non-pharmacological and (3) pharmacological treatment, and (4) appropriate referral of the patients to specialists. In total, 100 GPs were approached, and all consented to enrol; 70% were male. The average number of patients seen at each clinic was 30 patients per day. Only 38% of the GPs used the correct level of fasting blood glucose (,126mg/dl) as the cut-off for diagnosing diabetes. The majority of GPs did not adequately educate their patients. Only 65% of the GPs interviewed gave advice about exercise, 38% about weight reduction, 26% about foot care, 26% about the complications, 9% about insulin use, 20% about hypoglycaemic events, and 23% about smoking cessation. It was concluded that GPs in Pakistan under-diagnose and under-educate patients with diabetes. Our findings highlight the need for appropriate diagnosis and management of diabetes, and prevention of its complications. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Randomized, controlled trial of insulin for acute poststroke hyperglycemia

ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 5 2010
Michael McCormick MD
Objective Poststroke hyperglycemia is common and is associated with increased risk of death and dependence, but appropriate management remains uncertain. Glucose potassium insulin (GKI) infusion did not benefit patients with moderate poststroke hyperglycemia in a recent trial. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), previous studies identified a relationship between recruitment of ischemic tissue to the final infarct and hyperglycemia, possibly mediated by brain lactic acidosis. Methods We undertook a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of GKI infusion in patients with blood glucose >126mg/dl (7mmol/l) within 24 hours of ischemic stroke. The primary endpoint was infarct growth on MRI between baseline and day 7. Brain lactate concentrations were measured with magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Results Forty patients were randomized, 15 to saline and 25 to GKI infusions of different durations. Capillary blood glucose concentrations were lowered significantly from 6 to 12 hours after GKI initiation. There was no significant difference on any measure of infarct growth between the GKI and saline groups. In a secondary analysis, GKI was associated with significantly greater infarct growth in patients with complete intracranial vessel occlusion compared with controls (p = 0.011 for group,vessel status interaction). Brain lactate levels increased in control subjects, but were significantly lower with GKI infusion. Predominantly asymptomatic hypoglycemia occurred in 76% of GKI-treated subjects. Interpretation GKI infusion within 24 hours of stroke lowered blood glucose and attenuated an increase in brain lactate, but did not affect cerebral infarct growth. Exploratory analysis found that GKI infusion was associated with greater infarct growth in patients with persistent arterial occlusion, and with a high incidence of asymptomatic hypoglycemia. ANN NEUROL 2010;67:570,578 [source]

Long-term use of the ketogenic diet in the treatment of epilepsy

DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE & CHILD NEUROLOGY, Issue 12 2006
Darcy K Groesbeck BS
Long-term outcomes of the ketogenic diet in the treatment of epilepsy have not previously been reported. A retrospective chart review of children treated with the ketogenic diet for more than 6 years at the Johns Hopkins Hospital was performed. The response was documented at clinic visits and by telephone contacts; laboratory studies were obtained approximately every 6 to 12 months. Satisfaction and tolerability were assessed by means of a brief parental telephone questionnaire. In all, 28 patients (15 males, 13 females), currently aged 7 to 23 years, were identified. The median baseline seizure frequency per week at diet onset was 630 (range 1,1400). Diet duration ranged from 6 to 12 years; 19 remain on the diet currently. After 6 years or more, 24 children experienced a more than 90% decrease in seizures, and 22 parents reported satisfaction with the diet's efficacy. Ten children were at less than the 10th centile for height at diet initiation; this number increased to 23 at the most recent follow-up (p=0.001). Kidney stones occurred in seven children and skeletal fractures in six. After 6 years or more the mean cholesterol level was 201mg/dl, high-density lipoprotein was 54mg/dl, low-density lipoprotein was 129mg/dl, and triglycerides were 97mg/dl. Efficacy and overall tolerability for children are maintained after prolonged use of the ketogenic diet. However, side effects, such as slowed growth, kidney stones, and fractures, should be monitored closely. [source]

Continuous glucose monitoring system: an attractive support tool in diabetes education

EUROPEAN DIABETES NURSING, Issue 1 2005
L Saez-de-Ibarra BSc Diabetes Specialist Nurse
Abstract The study was designed to determine the usefulness of the CGMS (continuous glucose monitoring system) as a support tool in type 1 diabetes education. The CGMS is a sensor system that measures interstitial glucose levels every five minutes for three or more days, by means of a microelectrode inserted in the subcutaneous tissue. People with type 1 diabetes (n=52), who actively participated in diabetes self-management programmes, were monitored with CGMS during three to five days. Patients were selected for CGMS when unsatisfied with the glycaemic results achieved, given the effort made. Ten patients used CSII, 14 used insulin glargine plus rapid acting insulin analogue and 28 used NPH insulin plus short acting insulin. All patients used blood glucose self-monitoring, with a mean of 6.5±1.4 glucose readings per day. The CGMS register was evaluated with the patient. Mean capillary glucose during the 15 days prior to CGMS, mean capillary glucose during CGMS and mean capillary glucose during the 15 days after CGMS are compared. Discussion of the record with the patient frequently allowed detection of inappropriate solving attitudes. Mean capillary glucose dropped from 155±20mg/dL (8.60±1.11mmol/L) prior to CGMS to 143±20mg/dL (7.94±1.11mmol/L) after CGMS (p=0.000). The effectiveness of CGMS (number of patients in whom mean glucose improved) rose from 66.7% in 2001 to 70.6% in 2002, 78.9% in 2003 and 88.8% in 2004. When the patient is involved in the analysis of glucose fluctuations, CGMS is a useful tool in diabetes education that will help achieve attitude changes because of the evidence depicted by the continuous glucose record. Experience in the use of this tool by the professional will improve its effectiveness. Copyright © 2005 FEND. [source]

Effectiveness of staged diabetes management on the quality of diabetes care in Mexico

PRACTICAL DIABETES INTERNATIONAL (INCORPORATING CARDIABETES), Issue 6 2010
J Rodriguez-Saldana MD
Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of staged diabetes management, a structured programme developed by the International Diabetes Center in Minneapolis, USA, on the quality of outpatient diabetes care at the primary level in Mexico. A prospective study was conducted in patients treated at outpatient diabetes clinics established in public health centres in 2001,2007 in Hidalgo, Mexico. Diabetes care was provided by multidisciplinary teams which included general physicians and nurses as a minimum. Organisational arrangements were made to reduce waiting times, avoid rotation of staff, and provide adequate time for baseline and follow-up visits. Process and outcomes indicators of quality of diabetes care included body mass index, blood pressure, fasting/casual blood glucose, lipoprotein measurement, haemoglobin A1c, and foot examination. Analysis of 4393 patients showed increases in the percentage of recorded process indicators of quality of diabetes care between baseline and the fifth visit: body mass index 85.5 vs 95.9%; blood pressure measurement 74.4 vs 95.6%; HbA1c 12.9 vs 17.7%; total cholesterol 18.3 vs 55.9%; and foot examination 19.1 vs 94.9%. Significant differences were noted by a decrease in fasting blood glucose (185.75±79.01 vs 162.89±72.53mg/dl, p<0.001), and a 3.6 percentage point decrease in HbA1c (12.05±4.47 vs 8.45±1.89%, p<0.001). These results suggest that it is possible to improve the quality of diabetes care at the primary level; this can be done through the implementation of a programme that integrates: changes in the structure and in the process of care, customised clinical guidelines, and a standardised system of information that enables measuring clinical results with very limited resources. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons. [source]

Prediction of hyperbilirubinaemia in the healthy term newborn

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 2 2001
X Carbonell
The aim is to establish the correlation between transcutaneous bilirubin (TCB) and serum bilirubin (TSB) and its predictive value for significant hyperbilirubinaemia ,290 mcmol/L (17mg/dL). We studied a total of 2004 healthy full-term newborns, weight 3.230g ± 491g; 90% received breast milk. The study was performed in two phases. In the first phase (610 newborns), the following tests were carried out: hematocrit and bilirubin in umbilical cord blood; TCB at 24 h, 48 h and between 60 h and 96 h at the forehead and over the sternum; TSB was measured along with this last test. In the second phase (1394 newborns), the predictive value of TCB and TSB was validated. The incidence of bilirubin >290 mcmol/L was 2.95% and 3.2%. The correlation between TSB and TCB is high (n= 996; r = 0.92; y = 5.916 + 0.804x; p < 0.000). There was a better correlation between TCB and TSB with sternal compared to forehead determination (< 24 h: 0.81 vs 0.77; 24,48 h: 0.887 vs 0.83; and >48 h: 0.94 vs 0.83). The study showed the scant sensitivity of umbilical cord blood bilirubin and good predictive value at 24 h of TSB > 102 mcmol/L (6mg/dL) and at 48 h of TSB > 154 mcmol/L (9mg/dL) and TCB > 13 (equivalent to 154 mcmol/L). Conclusion: There is a good correlation between TCB and TSB. In infants with TSB 102 mcmol/L at 24 h or TSB > 154 mcmol/L or transcutaneous readings > 13 h at 48 h, a TSB test must be performed after 48 h of life. [source]

Effects of antiepileptic drugs on lipids, homocysteine, and C-reactive protein,

ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 4 2009
Scott Mintzer MD
Objective The widely prescribed anticonvulsants phenytoin and carbamazepine are potent inducers of cytochrome P450 enzymes, which are involved in cholesterol synthesis. We sought to determine whether these drugs have an effect on cholesterol and other serological markers of vascular risk. Methods We recruited 34 epilepsy patients taking carbamazepine or phenytoin in monotherapy whose physicians had elected to change treatment to one of the noninducing anticonvulsants lamotrigine or levetiracetam. Fasting blood samples were obtained both before and 6 weeks after the switch to measure serum lipid fractions, lipoprotein(a), C-reactive protein, and homocysteine. A comparator group of 16 healthy subjects underwent the same serial studies. Results In the epilepsy patients, switch from either phenytoin or carbamazepine produced significant declines in total cholesterol (,24.8mg/dl), atherogenic (non,high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol (,19.9mg/dl), triglycerides (,47.1mg/dl) (all p < 0.0001), and C-reactive protein (,31.4%; p = 0.027). Patients who stopped taking carbamazepine also had a 31.2% decline in lipoprotein(a) level (p = 0.0004), whereas those taken off phenytoin had a decrease in homocysteine level (,1.7,mol/L; p = 0.005). All of these changes were significant when compared with those seen in healthy subjects (p < 0.05). Results were similar whether patients were switched to lamotrigine or levetiracetam. Interpretation Switching epilepsy patients from the enzyme-inducers carbamazepine or phenytoin to the noninducing drugs levetiracetam or lamotrigine produces rapid and clinically significant amelioration in several serological markers of vascular risk. These findings suggest that phenytoin and carbamazepine may substantially increase the risk for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. Ann Neurol 2009;65:448,456 [source]

Long-term outcomes after a structured hypertension education programme for patients with diabetes and hypertension

EUROPEAN DIABETES NURSING, Issue 2 2005
B Osterbrink Nurse Teacher, Diabetes Counsellor, Principal of the Academy of Health Professions
Abstract A structured hypertension treatment and education programme (HTEP) was developed in the Düsseldorf area in the 1990s for patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension and was found to be effective in a randomised controlled trial. The German Association of Diabetes Education and Counselling Professions (VDBD) implemented the HTEP all over Germany in order to optimise the care of patients with diabetes and hypertension. The objectives of the HTEP are to enable patients to gain knowledge of hypertension, to participate actively in their treatment to improve blood pressure (BP) and metabolic control and to self-measure their BP. The implementation consisted of two stages. The first stage comprised the training of 312 diabetes counsellors (DCs). During the second stage 473 patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and hypertension in 35 diabetes centres throughout Germany received the HTEP including instructions in BP self-measurement. The HTEP consists of four units each one with a duration of 90 minutes covering the topics: hypertension, BP self-monitoring according to the standards of the German Hypertension League, antihypertensive medication including effects and side effects, recommendations to moderate exercise, weight reduction, dietary advice with reference to reduction of salt and alcohol and normalising the intake of protein. These patients participated in a prospective non-experimental study with a follow up of three years investigating the long-term outcomes of the HTEP in uncontrolled settings. The DCs assessed the accuracy of patients' self-monitoring by parallel measurement. Assessments included questionnaires evaluating patients' understanding of hypertension and metabolic control. The mean BP monitored by the DC fell from 150/85mmHg to 147/80mmHg (p<0.0001). The accuracy of self-measurements increased from 76% to 86% (p<0.005) and mean self-measurement readings decreased from 142/81mmHg to 139/78mmHg. HbA1c fell significantly from 7.9±1.6% to 7.3±1.1% (mean ± SD, p<0.001) and total cholesterol was lowered from 241±67.1mg/dl to 200±40.4mg/dl (p<0.001). Patients' knowledge of hypertension increased from 62% before the intervention to 72% after three years' follow up. Patients over 70 years showed less knowledge than younger patients (p<0.005). It was concluded that the HTEP is effective in improving BP, metabolic control and knowledge of hypertension. It enables patients to measure their BP precisely and regularly. Copyright © 2005 FEND. [source]

Long-term use of the ketogenic diet in the treatment of epilepsy

Effects of antiepileptic drugs on lipids, homocysteine, and C-reactive protein,

Long-term outcomes after a structured hypertension education programme for patients with diabetes and hypertension

(229) Serum Cortisol Concentrations and Adrenal Reserve May Be Altered by Severe Chronic Pain

PAIN MEDICINE, Issue 3 2001
Forest Tennant
It has been postulated that chronic pain over-stimulates the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis to produce an extended stress response. If this assumption is true, patients with severe, chronic pain should demonstrate abnormalities of the pituitary-adrenal axis. To evaluate this premise, we screened 40 adult, chronic pain patients in the first week of treatment with serum cortisol concentrations taken between 8:00 and 10:00 AM. Criteria for inclusion in this study required that pain be present for at least one year and be constant, incurable, interfere with sleep, and cause the patient to be bed or house-bound without opioid treatment. Sixteen (16) of the subjects were challenged with cosyntropin, 0.25mg, given intramuscularly immediately after blood was drawn for determination of baseline serum cortisol concentration. Normal serum cortisol concentrations was considered to range from 5.0 to 25.0 ug/dl at baseline, and normal cortisol reserve was considered to be at least a doubling of the baseline concentration determined one hour after cosyntropin administration. Ten (25%) of the patients had evaluated serum cortisol concentrations above 25ug/dl with the highest being 54.4 ug/dl. Nine (20%) demonstrated low serum cortisol concentrations under 5 ug/dl, and 5 of 16 (31.25%) given cosyntropin challenge demonstrated inadequate adrenal reserve by failing to double their baseline cortisol concentration. All patients with high or low serum cortisol concentration demonstrated a normal cortisol concentration following pain control with a long-acting opioid including methadone, extended-length morphine or oxycodone, or transdermal fentanyl. This study suggests that severe, chronic pain may produce profound abnormalities of serum cortisol and cortisol reserve, and normalization of these alterations may require pain treatment with long-acting opioids. [source]

Effects of antiepileptic drugs on lipids, homocysteine, and C-reactive protein,

Long-term use of the ketogenic diet in the treatment of epilepsy

Prediction of hyperbilirubinaemia in the healthy term newborn

Doll-like face: Is it an underestimated clinical presentation of cystic fibrosis?

PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 7 2008
Mehmet Kose MD
Abstract Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most prevalant inheritable chronic disease in caucasian children. The clinical syndrome of kwashiorkor is well-recognized complication of CF. The edema of the face can be seen in kwashiorkor. As doll-like face is very rare and underestimated clinical presentation of CF patients complicated with hypoproteinemia we evaluated demographic features and laboratory characteristics of 5 patients diagnosed as CF with doll-like face. Methods: Between June 2005 and January 2008, 115 children were diagnosed as having CF enrolled in our center. Five infants were diagnosed as CF with doll-like face before the age of 6 months participitated in study. Results: The incidence of doll-like face younger than the 6 months of age were 9.4% in our center. 48 infants diagnosed as CF without doll-like face before the age of 6 months participitated in the study as controls (group2). Physical examination revealed doll-like face and pitting edema of lower extremities in group 1. Their weight and length were under the third centile. Laboratory findings of group 1 include: mean hemoglobin 7.6g/dl; mean total protein 4.4 g/dl; albumin 2.3 g/dl. When compared control group in order to; 11.4 g/dl (range 7.6,17.9); 6.2 g/dl (range 4.0,8.8); 4.7 g/dl (range 2.1,5.8). mean hemoglobin, total protein and albumin values were lower in group 1. Conclusion: In a subgroup of patients, doll-like face may be the presenting manifestation of CF. Especially in developing countries clinicians should be aware of in patients with malnutrition and doll-like face and CF should be considered in differential diagnosis. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:634,637. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Long-term use of the ketogenic diet in the treatment of epilepsy

Prediction of hyperbilirubinaemia in the healthy term newborn

New methodologies in teaching e-structural mechanics using WWW,

COMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 3 2008
Carmelo Maiorana
Abstract A recently initiated phase of experimentation and research in the online Distance Learning (DL) is here described. The project has been developed by the Department of Construction and Transportation Engineering of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Padua along with the well-established e-learning experience of the SSIS Veneto (Institute for the Formation of Secondary School's Teachers) of Cà Foscari,University of Venice, in collaboration with the webmaster management of TCN-EnginSoft of Padua. The work deals with teaching methodologies supported by the net, computer communication and information technologies, finalized to give both widespread access to useful resources and to create a more flexible exchange due to net communication. The experimentation of using web-based technologies to support traditional teaching for working students is described; in fact, Internet-based innovations offer opportunities for a curriculum improvement to those categories of students who could be considered at a disadvantage, like worker students or students with ear or motion deafness. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 16: 189,210, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae20167 [source]

Vibrational, optical and microhardness studies of trimethoprim DL -malate

CRYSTAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 12 2009
S. Franklin
Abstract Trimethoprim malate, an organic crystal, has been synthesized using slow evaporation method from its aqueous solution. Structural, optical and the mechanical properties of the grown crystal have been investigated by various characterization techniques which include FTIR spectra, single crystal XRD, UV-Vis spectra and Vickers microhardness testing. The structure of the compound predicted by analysing the recorded FTIR spectrum compliments the structure determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction. Single crystal X-ray diffraction study reveals that the crystals are monoclinic [P21/c, a=12.9850 Å, b=9.3038 Å, c=15.6815 Å and ,=111.065°]. The UV-Vis spectrum exhibits maximum transparency (98%) for a wide range suggesting the suitability of the title compound for optical applications. The optical constants have been calculated and illustrated graphically. Microhardness tests have been performed on the cystal under study and the Vicker hardness number has been calculated. The work hardening coefficient is found to be 2.85 which suggest that the crystal belongs to the family of soft materials. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]

Dichotic listening and school performance in dyslexia

DYSLEXIA, Issue 1 2008
Turid Helland
Abstract This study focused on the relationship between school performance and performance on a dichotic listening (DL) task in dyslexic children. Dyslexia is associated with impaired phonological processing, related to functions in the left temporal lobe. DL is a frequently used task to assess functions of the left temporal lobe. Due to the predominance of the contralateral neuronal pathways, a right ear advantage in the DL task reflects the superior processing capacity for the right ear stimulus in the left hemisphere (Kimura, 1963). Previous studies using DL in dyslexia are, however, inconclusive, and may reflect degree of severity of dyslexia. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate lateralized processing in two sub-groups of dyslexia, differing in symptom severity. Two groups of dyslexic 12-year-old children and an age-matched control group were tested with a consonant,vowel DL task. The two dyslexia groups differed in severity through how they responded to training efforts being made in their schools, while otherwise being matched for age, IQ and diagnosis. The D1 (respondent group) group showed a DL performance pattern similar to the control group, i.e. a right ear advantage, while the D2 (non-respondent) group failed to show a right ear advantage on the DL task. The performance on the DL task by the two dyslexia groups may provide better insight as to the degree of reading and writing impairment in dyslexia. ,Cracking the code' and acquiring automatized literacy skills may seem harder for the D2 group children compared to the D1 children. Also, the present study points to the use of DL as a valid assessment tool in clinical work to improve differential diagnoses, particularly in relation to measures of school performance. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Analysis of historical landslide time series in the Emilia-Romagna region, northern Italy

EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, Issue 10 2010
Mauro Rossi
Abstract A catalogue of historical landslides, 1951,2002, for three provinces in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy is presented and its statistical properties studied. The catalogue consists of 2255 reported landslides and is based on historical archives and chronicles. We use two measures for the intensity of landsliding over time: (i) the number of reported landslides in a day (DL) and (ii) the number of reported landslides in an event (Sevent), where an event is one or more consecutive days with landsliding. From 1951,2002 in our study area there were 1057 days with 1 , DL ,?45 landslides per day, and 596 events with 1 , Sevent , 129 landslides per event. In the first set of analyses, we find that the probability density of landslide intensities in the time series are power-law distributed over at least two-orders of magnitude, with exponent of about ,2·0. Although our data is a proxy for landsliding built from newspaper reports, it is the first tentative evidence that the frequency-size of triggered landslide events over time (not just the landslides in a given triggered event), like earthquakes, scale as a power-law or other heavy-tailed distributions. If confirmed, this could have important implications for risk assessment and erosion modelling in a given area. In our second set of analyses, we find that for short antecedent rainfall periods, the minimum amount of rainfall necessary to trigger landslides varies considerably with the intensity of the landsliding (DL and Sevent); whereas for long antecedent periods the magnitude is largely independent of the cumulative amount of rainfall, and the largest values of landslide intensity are always preceded by abundant rainfall. Further, the analysis of the rainfall trend suggests that the trigger of landslides in the study area is related to seasonal rainfall. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Temporal correlations and clustering of landslides

EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, Issue 10 2010
Annette Witt
Abstract This paper examines temporal correlations and temporal clustering of a proxy historical landslide time series, 2255 reported landslides 1951,2002, for an area in the Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy. Landslide intensity is measured by the number of reported landslides in a day (DL) and in an ,event' (Sevent) of consecutive days with landsliding. The non-zero values in both time series DL and Sevent are unequally spaced in time, and have heavy-tailed frequency-size distributions. To examine temporal correlations, we use power-spectral analysis (Lomb periodogram) and surrogate data analysis, confronting our original DL and Sevent time series with 1000 shuffled (uncorrelated) versions. We conclude that the landslide intensity series DL has strong temporal correlations and Sevent has likely temporal correlations. To examine temporal clustering in DL and Sevent, we consider extremes over different landslide intensity thresholds. We first examine the statistical distribution of interextreme occurrence times, ,, and find Weibull distributions with parameter , << 1·0 [DL] and , < 1·0 [Sevent]; thus DL and Sevent each have temporal correlations, but Sevent to a lesser degree. We next examine correlations between successive interextreme occurrence times, ,. Using autocorrelation analysis applied to ,, combined with surrogate data analysis, we find for DL linear correlations in ,, but for Sevent inconclusive results. However, using Kendall's rank correlation analysis we find for both DL and Sevent the series of , are strongly correlated. Finally, we apply Fano Factor analysis, finding for both DL and Sevent the timings of extremes over a given threshold exhibit a fractal structure and are clustered in time. In this paper, we provide a framework for examining time series where the non-zero values are strongly unequally spaced and heavy-tailed, particularly important in the Earth Sciences due to their common occurrence, and find that landslide intensity time series exhibit temporal correlations and clustering. Many landslide models currently are designed under the assumption that landslides are uncorrelated in time, which we show is false. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Capillary electrophoretic separation of biologically active amines and acids using nanoparticle-coated capillaries

ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 9 2008
Yu-Fen Huang
Abstract This manuscript describes dynamic coating of capillaries with poly(L -lysine) (PLL) and silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) and use of the as-prepared capillaries for the separation of biogenic amines and acids by CE in conjunction with LIF detection. The directions of EOF are controlled by varying the outmost layer of the capillaries with PLL and SiO2 NPs, respectively. Over the pH range 3.0,5.0, the (PLL,SiO2NP)n,PLL capillaries have an EOF toward the anodic end and are more suitable for the separation of acids with respect to speed, while the (PLL,SiO2NP)n capillaries have an EOF toward the cathodic end and are more suitable for the separation of biogenic amines regarding speed and sensitivity. The separations of standard solutions containing five amines and two acids by CE with LIF detection using (PLL,SiO2NP)2,PLL and (PLL,SiO2NP)3 capillaries were accomplished within 10 and 7,min, providing plate numbers of 3.8 and 5.0×104,plates/m for 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), respectively. The LODs for 5-HT and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) are 32 and 2,nM and 0.2 and 1.5,nM when using the (PLL,SiO2NP)2,PLL and (PLL,SiO2NP)3 capillaries, respectively. Identification and quantification of 5-HIAA, homovanillic acid, and DL -vanillomandelic acid in urine samples from a male before and after drinking green tea were tested to validate practicality of the present approach. The results show that the (PLL,SiO2NP)2,PLL capillary provides greater resolving power, while the (PLL,SiO2NP)3 capillary provides better sensitivity, higher efficiency, and longer durability for the separation of the amines and acids. [source]

Electrokinetic partial filling technique as a powerful tool for enantiomeric separation of DL -lactic acid by CE with contactless conductivity detection

ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 11 2007
zslav Maier Dr.
Abstract A modified partial filling method for chiral separation of DL -lactic acid as the model chiral compound with vancomycin chloride as the chiral selector was developed by CE with contactless conductivity detection. Electrokinetic partial filling technique (EK-PFT) was used as an alternative method to the conventional hydrodynamic partial filling method. EK-PFT, in contrast to the hydrodynamic partial filling technique, allowed the removal of the chloride counterions from the chiral selector which otherwise led to poor sensitivity in conductivity detection. The baseline separation of DL -lactic acid as the model analyte was achieved in 5,min in a polyacrylamide-coated capillary. The best resolution was achieved by electrokinetic partial filling of vancomycin cations from the injection solution containing 5,mmol/L oxalate L -histidinium at pH,4.5 with 10,mmol/L vancomycin chloride. Computer simulation was used to explain the observed phenomena in the boundary between the inject vial and the capillary during the EK-PFT of vancomycin cations. [source]

Direct chiral resolution of tartaric acid by ion-pair capillary electrophoresis using an aqueous background electrolyte with (1R,2R)-(,)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane as a chiral counterion

ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 15 2003
Shuji Kodama
Abstract Chiral resolution of native DL -tartaric acid was achieved by ion-pair capillary electrophoresis (CE) using an aqueous-ethanol background electrolyte with (1R,2R)-(,)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane (R -DACH) as a chiral counterion. Factors affecting chiral resolution and migration time of tartaric acid were studied. By increasing the viscosity of the background electrolyte and the ion-pair formation, using organic solvents with a lower relative dielectric constant, resulted in a longer migration time. The optimum conditions for both high resolution and short migration time of tartaric acid were found to be a mixture of 65% v/v ethanol and 35% v/v aqueous solution containing 30 mMR -DACH and 75 mM phosphoric acid (pH 5.1) with an applied voltage of ,30 kV at 25°C, using direct detection at 200 nm. By using this system, the resolution (Rs) of racemic tartaric acid was approximately 1. The electrophoretic patterns of tartaric and malic acids suggest that two carboxyl groups and two hydroxyl groups of tartaric acid are associated with the enantioseparation of tartaric acid by the proposed CE method. [source]