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H Decreased (h + decreased)
Selected AbstractsHydrometeorological behaviour of pine and larch forests in eastern SiberiaHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 1 2004Shuko Hamada Abstract Seasonal changes in the water and energy exchanges over a pine forest in eastern Siberia were investigated and compared with published data from a nearby larch forest. Continuous observations (April to August 2000) were made of the eddy-correlation sensible heat flux and latent heat flux above the canopy. The energy balance was almost closed, although the sum of the turbulent fluxes sometimes exceeded the available energy flux (Rn , G) when the latent heat flux was large; this was related to the wind direction. We examined the seasonal variation in energy balance components at this site. The seasonal variation and magnitude of the sensible heat flux (H) was similar to that of the latent heat flux (,E), with maximum values occurring in mid-June. Consequently, the Bowen ratio was around 1·0 on many days during the study period. On some clear days just after rainfall, ,E was very large and the sum of H and ,E exceeded Rn , G. The evapotranspiration rate above the dry canopy from May to August was 2·2 mm day,1. The contributions of understory evapotranspiration (Eu) and overstory transpiration (Eo) to the evapotranspiration of the entire ecosystem (Et) were both from 25 to 50% throughout the period analysed. These results suggest that Eu plays a very important role in the water cycle at this site. From snowmelt through the tree growth season (23 April to 19 August 2000), the total incoming water, comprised of the sum of precipitation and the water equivalent of the snow at the beginning of the melt season, was 228 mm. Total evapotranspiration from the forest, including interception loss and evaporation from the soil when the canopy was wet, was 208,254 mm. The difference between the incoming and outgoing amounts in the water balance was from +20 to ,26 mm. The water and energy exchanges of the pine and larch forest differed in that ,E and H increased slowly in the pine forest, whereas ,E increased rapidly in the larch forest and H decreased sharply after the melting season. Consequently, the shape of the Bowen ratio curves at the two sites differed over the period analysed, as a result of the differences in the species in each forest and in soil thawing. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Effect of Smoking on Serum Pepsinogen I Level Depends on Serological Status of Helicobacter pyloriCANCER SCIENCE, Issue 3 2001Masayuki Tatemichi Serum pepsinogen (sPG) levels are used in gastric cancer screening programs. However, modification of sPG levels by smoking habit, according to the status of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection has been little investigated. This study investigated the effects of smoking on serum levels of pepsinogen I (PG I), pepsinogen II (PG II), and gastrin by IgG titer of antibody against H. pylori (Hp-IgG titer) using the data from 356 current-smokers and 262 non-smokers (133 never-smokers and 129 ex-smokers) in a cross-sectional study of 618 men aged 40 to 49 years. PG I, PG II, PG I/PG II ratio and gastrin were significantly associated with Hp-IgG titer in never-smokers [Spearman's correlation coefficient (95% confidence interval): 0.23 (0.07, 0.39), 0.52 (0.41, 0.63), -0.40 (-0.54, -0.27), and 0.25 (0.10, 0.41), respectively]. However, the correlation coefficients of PG I and PG H decreased in current-smokers, 0.02 (-0.1, 0.13) and 0.32 (0.22, 0.42), respectively. In H. pylori seronegative and low titer cases, the mean PG I level was significantly (P<0.01) higher in current-smokers, compared with non-smokers. However, in high titer cases, the mean PG I level was lower in current-smokers. Mean PG II and gastrin levels, and PG I/PG II ratio did not differ according to smoking habits by Hp-IgG titer. The gastrin level was significantly correlated with PG H, but not PG I. These data indicate that current smoking influences the serum PG I level depending on Hp-IgG titer and the associations between sPGs and Hp-IgG titer. Gastrin is not involved in the modification of PG I levels by smoking. [source] Retinal Endothelial Angiogenic Activity: Effects of Hypoxia and Glial (Müller) CellsMICROCIRCULATION, Issue 7 2004YOUSEF YAFAI ABSTRACT Objective: To explore the impact of retinal glial (Müller) cells on survival and neovascularization-related activities of cultured retinal endothelial cells under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Methods: Bovine retinal endothelial cells (BRECs) were cultured under normoxia or hypoxia (0.5% O2) either alone, together with the human Müller cell line MIO-M1, or in normoxia- or hypoxia-conditioned media of MIO-M1 cells. Cell number, proliferation, apoptotic cell death, and migration of BRECs were determined. Results: Exposure of BRECs to hypoxia for 24 h decreased the number of adherent cells and the proliferation rate, but increased apoptosis and cell migration. Increased apoptosis and decreased proliferation of the BRECs occurred also in the presence of conditioned media of MIO-M1 cells. Under normoxic conditions, co-culture with MIO-M1 cells resulted in increased proliferation, but decreased apoptosis and migration rates of BRECs. Under hypoxic conditions, the Müller cells released elevated amounts of VEGF but their presence decreased proliferation, apoptosis and the migration rates of BRECs. Conclusions: Hypoxia inhibits the proliferation of retinal endothelial cells. Müller cells release soluble mediators that enhance this hypoxia-mediated effect but, under certain conditions (i.e., in co-culture), may protect retinal endothelial cells from apoptosis, thus supporting their survival. Altogether the findings indicate that the key signal necessary to trigger retinal endothelial proliferation under hypoxia remains to be determined. [source] Persistence and efficacy of two diatomaceous earth formulations and a mixture of diatomaceous earth with natural pyrethrum against Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) on wheat and maizePEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE (FORMERLY: PESTICIDE SCIENCE), Issue 5 2006Basileios J Vayias Abstract Laboratory tests were conducted to assess the insecticidal and residual effects of three diatomaceous earth (DE) formulations, Insecto®, PyriSec® and SilicoSec®, against Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val on wheat and maize. Quantities of wheat and maize were treated with the above formulations at 500, 1000 and 1500 mg kg,1 and stored at 25 °C and 55% relative humidity (RH). Samples were taken on the day of storage and every 30 days until completion of a 360 day period of storage. Adults of T. confusum were exposed to these samples at 25 °C and 55% RH and the mortality was measured after 24 and 48 h and 7 and 14 days of exposure. Adult mortality was higher on wheat than on maize. At the beginning of the storage period, mortalities after 14 day exposure on maize treated with the highest rate were 60, 63 and 81% for Insecto®, PyriSec® and SilicoSec® respectively, while on wheat the mortality was 100% for all DEs. On the same commodities 360 days after treatment the respective mortality figures for wheat were 99, 98 and 100%, while in the case of maize they did not exceed 7%. Generally, mortality at exposures ,48 h decreased with increasing storage time. Furthermore, although mortality on wheat increased with dose, the increase in DE dose from 1000 to 1500 mg kg,1 resulted in only a small increase in mortality. Thus a DE treatment of 1000 mg kg,1 was shown to provide long-term protection of wheat against T. confusum, although higher DE application rates and exposure intervals are needed for a satisfactory level of protection of maize against this pest. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Effects of temperature and wetness duration on conidial infection, latent period and asexual sporulation of Pyrenopeziza brassicae on leaves of oilseed rapePLANT PATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2000T. Gilles Experiments in controlled environments were carried out to determine the effects of temperature and leaf wetness duration on infection of oilseed rape leaves by conidia of the light leaf spot pathogen, Pyrenopeziza brassicae. Visible spore pustules developed on leaves of cv. Bristol inoculated with P. brassicae conidia at temperatures from 4 to 20°C, but not at 24°C; spore pustules developed when the leaf wetness duration after inoculation was longer than or equal to approximately 6 h at 12,20°C, 10 h at 8°C, 16 h at 6°C or 24 h at 4°C. On leaves of cvs. Capricorn or Cobra, light leaf spot symptoms developed at 8 and 16°C when the leaf wetness duration after inoculation was greater than 3 or 24 h, respectively. The latent period (the time period from inoculation to first spore pustules) of P. brassicae on cv. Bristol was, on average, approximately 10 days at 16°C when leaf wetness duration was 24 h, and increased to approximately 12 days as temperature increased to 20°C and to 26 days as temperature decreased to 4°C. At 8°C, an increase in leaf wetness duration from 10 to 72 h decreased the latent period from approximately 25 to 16 days; at 6°C, an increase in leaf wetness duration from 16 to 72 h decreased the latent period from approximately 23 to 17 days. The numbers of conidia produced were greatest at 12,16°C, and decreased as temperature decreased to 8°C or increased to 20°C. At temperatures from 8 to 20°C, an increase in leaf wetness duration from 6 to 24 h increased the production of conidia. There were linear relationships between the number of conidia produced on a leaf and the proportion of the leaf area covered by ,lesions' (both log10 -transformed) at different temperatures. [source] Changes in water-holding capacity and textural properties of chicken gizzard stored at 4°CANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 3 2010Yoshito TOMISAKA ABSTRACT The water-holding capacity (WHC), and toughness (shear force) of chicken gizzard were evaluated during postmortem storage for 4.5, 7, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h at 4°C. Degradation of the cytoskeletal proteins desmin, talin and vinculin were monitored by sodium dodecyl sulfate , polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting during the same designated storage period. The WHC of the gizzards decreased significantly from 12 h to 72 h of storage, but by 96 h the WHC was restored to the level measured after storage for 12 h. The shear force value of the gizzards increased rapidly until 12 h and then decreased until 24 h, with a further slight decrease by 48 h. Degradation products of desmin, talin and vinculin appeared at 96 h, 12 h and 48 h postmortem, respectively. The intensity of immunolabeling for desmin, talin and vinculin after storage for 96 h decreased to 51%, 25% and 52% of the initial value. The appearance of desmin degradation products was accompanied by an increase in WHC. This suggests that the postmortem degradation of desmin is involved in the increase of WHC in chicken gizzard during storage at 4°C, and talin and vinculin may be involved. [source] Effects of exposure to a 1950 MHz radio frequency field on expression of Hsp70 and Hsp27 in human glioma cellsBIOELECTROMAGNETICS, Issue 4 2005J. Miyakoshi Abstract Human glioma MO54 cells were used to investigate whether radio frequency (RF) field exposure could activate stress response genes. Cells were exposed to continuous wave 1950 MHz or sham conditions for up to 2 h. Specific absorption rates (SARs) were 1, 2, and 10 W/kg. For the cell growth experiment, cell numbers were counted at 0,4 days after exposure. Expression of Hsp27 and Hsp70, as well as the level of phosphorylated Hsp27 (78Ser) protein, was determined by Western blotting. It was found that sham exposed and RF exposed cells demonstrated a similar growth pattern up to 4 days after RF field exposure. RF field exposure at both 2 and 10 W/kg did not affect the growth of MO54 cells. In addition, there were no significant differences in protein expression of Hsp27 and Hsp70 between sham exposed and RF exposed cells at a SAR of 1, 2, or 10 W/kg for 1 and 2 h. However, exposure to RF field at a SAR of 10 W/kg for 1 and 2 h decreased the protein level of phosphorylated Hsp27 (78Ser) significantly. Our results suggest that although exposure to a 1950 MHz RF field has no effect on cell proliferation and expression of Hsp 27 and Hsp70, it may inhibit the phosphorylation of Hsp27 at Serine 78 in MO54 cells. Bioelectromagnetics 26:251,257, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Safety and efficacy of tramadol in the treatment of idiopathic detrusor overactivity: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized studyBRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 4 2006M. R. Safarinejad Aim To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tramadol in patients with idiopathic detrusor overactivity (IDO). Methods A total of 76 patients 18 years or older with IDO were randomly assigned to receive 100 mg tramadol sustained release (group 1, n = 38) or placebo (group 2, n = 38) every 12 h for 12 weeks. Clinical evaluation was performed at baseline and every 2 weeks during treatment. All patients underwent urodynamics and ice water test at baseline and 12-week treatment. Main outcome measures were number of voids per 24 h, urine volume per void and episodes of urge incontinence per 24 h on a frequency volume chart and detailed recording of adverse effect. Results After 12 weeks of treatment mean number of voids per 24 h ± SD decreased from 9.3 ± 3.2 to 5.1 ± 2.1 (P < 0.001 vs. placebo) [95% confidence interval (CI) ,5.1-,0.4]. At that time mean urine volume per void increased from 158 ± 32 to 198 ± 76 ml (P < 0.001 vs. placebo) (95% CI 8-22), while mean number of incontinence episodes per 24 h decreased from 3.2 ± 3.3 to 1.6 ± 2.8 (P < 0.001 vs. placebo) (95% CI ,2-0.3). Tramadol induced significant improvements in urodynamic parameters. More adverse effects were associated with tramadol treatment than with placebo (P < 0.05). The main adverse event with tramadol was nausea. Conclusions In patients with non-neurogenic IDO tramadol provided beneficial clinical and urodynamic results. Further studies are required to draw final conclusions on the efficacy of this drug in IDO. [source] |