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HM
Selected AbstractsMechanical properties of single crystalline and glassy lithium triborateCRYSTAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 4 2008I. P. Shakhverdova Abstract Mechanical properties of LiB3O5 single crystal plates with different orientation as well as of glass with the same composition have been investigated. The nano- (H) and microhardness (HM), the reduced Young's modulus (Er) and the crack behaviour of the samples were studied. Both hardness and Young's modulus of glass appeared smaller in comparison to corresponding single crystal data (H , 7 , 8 GPa, HM , 6 GPa, Er , 70 , 80 GPa for glass and H , 10 , 15 GPa, HM , 6 ,11 GPa, Er , 93 , 155 GPa for single crystal). H, Er, and the plane of crack propagation proved orientation-dependent. Cracks in the glass sample were not observed up to 0.49 N microindentation load, whereas for the single crystal the cracks appeared already at 0.098N. In single crystals the observed cleavage planes {211} and/or {412} are oriented nearly parallel to planes of B-O rings. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] A decreased positivity for CD90 on human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) is associated with a loss of immunosuppressive activity by MSCs,CYTOMETRY, Issue 3 2009Diana Campioni Abstract Biologic and clinical interest in human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSC) has risen over the last years, mainly due to their immunosuppressive properties. In this study, we investigated the basis of immunomodulant possible variability using hMSC from different sources (amniotic membrane, chorion, and bone marrow from either healthy subjects or patients with hematological malignancies, HM) and having discordant positivity for several immunological markers. The CD90+ hMSC reduced lymphoproliferative response in phytohemagglutinin (PHA) activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) via sHLA-G and IL-10 up-modulation. On the contrary, hMSC showing a significantly lower expression for CD90 antigen, elicited a lymphoproliferative allogeneic response in PHA/PBMCs without any increase in soluble HLA-G and IL-10 levels. These data seems to suggest that CD90 molecule may be considered a novel predictive marker for hMSC inhibitory ability, and might cooperate with HLA-G molecule in regulating suppressive versus stimulatory properties of hMSC. These results may have clinical implication in either transplantation or in regenerative medicine fields. © 2008 Clinical Cytometry Society [source] A 75% insulin lispro/25% NPL mixture provides a longer duration of insulin activity compared with insulin lispro alone in patients with Type 1 diabetesDIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 11 2003P. Roach Abstract Aims To compare a new insulin formulation, high mix (HM) [75% lispro (LP) and 25% neutral protamine lispro (NPL)], to regular human insulin (HR) and LP with respect to glucose response and pharmacokinetics following a test meal in patients with Type 1 diabetes. Methods After fasting overnight, patients received an intravenous insulin infusion to standardize blood glucose (BG) to 7.5 mmol/l (135 mg/dl). In a randomised, three-way crossover study, HR was injected 30 min before, and LP or HM was injected immediately before the test meal on three separate occasions. For each patient, LP and HR were administered at identical doses; the HM dose was one and one third times that of HR and LP to maintain the same dose of short or rapid-acting insulin. The insulin infusion was stopped 15 min after the insulin injection. Free insulin and BG concentrations were measured frequently for 7 h following the test meal. Results HM and LP resulted in better glycaemic control than HR during the observation period. BG concentrations during the first 4,5 h did not differ between HM and LP. However, HM exhibited prolonged insulin activity relative to LP beyond 5 h, extending the duration of action by approximately 1 h, and resulting in lower overall BG concentrations when the 0,6- and 0,7-h intervals were considered. Conclusions Compared with LP, HM provided similar glycaemic control for up to 5 h and superior glycaemic control from 5 to 7 h following a standard test meal [source] Response of the charophyte Nitellopsis obtusa to heavy metals at the cellular, cell membrane, and enzyme levelsENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 3 2002Levonas Manusad, ianas Abstract The responses of the freshwater macroalga Nitellopsis obtusa to heavy metal (HM) salts of Hg, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, and Ni were assessed at different levels: whole-cell mortality (96-h LC50), in vivo cell membrane (45-min depolarization of resting potential, EC50), and enzyme in plasma membrane preparations (K+, Mg2+ -specific H+ -ATPase inhibition, IC50). To measure ATPase activity, a novel procedure for isolation of plasma membrane,enriched vesicles from charophyte cells was developed. The short-term ATPase inhibition assay (IC50 from 6.0 × 10,7 to 4.6 × 10,4 M) was slightly more sensitive than the cell mortality test (LC50 from 1.1 × 10,6 to 2.6 × 10,3 M), and the electrophysiological test with the end point of 45-min depolarization of resting potential was characterized by less sensitivity for HMs (EC50 from 1.1 × 10,4 to 2.2 × 10,2 M). The variability of IC50 values assessed for HMs in the ATPase assays was close to that of LC50 values in the mortality tests (CVs from 33.5 to 83.5 and from 12.4% to 57.7%, respectively), whereas the EC50 values in the electrophysiological tests were characterized by CVs generally below 30%. All three end points identified two separate HM groups according to their toxicity to N. obtusa: Co, Ni, and Cr comprised a group of less toxic metals, whereas Hg, Cu, and Cd comprised a group of more toxic metals. However, the adverse effects within each group were discriminated differently. For example, the maximum difference between the highest and lowest LC50 for the group of less toxic metals in the long-term mortality test was approximately 60% of the response range, whereas the corresponding difference in IC50 values in the ATPase assay was 30%. In contrast, the LC50 values of the more toxic metals occupied only 10% of the response range, whereas the IC50 values were spread over 70%. Further investigation should be done of the underlying mechanism or mechanisms responsible for the observed differences in the dynamic range of a particular end point of the groups of toxicants of varying strength. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 17: 275,283, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/tox.10058 [source] A Haigh,Mallion-Based Approach for the Evaluation of the Intensity Factors of Aromatic RingsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 2 2006Cristiano Zonta Abstract A novel method for the determination of intensity factors of benzenoid systems based on the Haigh,Mallion (HM) theory has been developed. In this paper, the magnetic anisotropy generated by the ring-current effect in polycondensed arenes has been quantitatively calculated as nuclear independent chemical shieldings (NICSs) in a three-dimensional grid of points using the B3LYP/6-31G(d) method implemented in the Gaussian 98 program. The fitting of the calculated values to the HM model gives intensity factors for each ring. A comparison of the obtained values with Schleyer's NICS0 is given. The obtained intensity factors may find application in software using 1H NMR chemical shifts for structure determination.(© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006) [source] Studying spatial and temporal dynamics of sward structure at low stocking densities: the use of an extended rising-plate-meter methodGRASS & FORAGE SCIENCE, Issue 4 2003O. Correll Abstract An extended rising-plate-meter method was used to study the spatial and temporal variability of the sward structure of extensively managed pastures over a grazing season. Two treatments of a long-term grazing experiment with heifers were investigated: extensive continuous grazing (EG) with a target sward height of 10 cm and intensive continuous grazing (IG) with a target sward height of 5 cm. Compressed sward height and related herbage mass (HM), dominant plant species and stage of development of phenology were determined at weekly or twice weekly intervals at fixed measuring points. The results demonstrated a strong variability in sward height and HM, especially on the EG treatment. The botanical composition of the standing herbage differed between treatments and between patches of different heights within the same treatment. In areas with a short sward, the herbage was predominantly composed of Agrostis capillaris, Festuca rubra and Trifolium repens. It was more evenly composed and also included taller growing species, such as Alopecurus pratensis and Galium mollugo, in areas with a tall sward. The area potentially available for reproductive development was high in the EG treatment and low in the IG treatment. The method employed proved suitable to provide a detailed description of the dynamics of the sward structure. [source] Familial Hemiplegic Migraine: Permanent Attack-Related Neurologic DeficitsHEADACHE, Issue 8 2007David Dodick MD Hemiplegic migraine (HM) is characterized by motor weakness and at least one other aura symptom or sign that is fully reversible within 24 hours. While prolonged neurological impairment lasting weeks has been observed, persistent attack-related neurological deficits have not been described. This case illustrates the potential for permanent neurological deficits to occur as a sequelae of HM in the absence of infarction, and highlights potentially important pathophysiological and treatment implications. [source] Hematological malignancies in the island of Sardinia, 1974,1993: age and sex distributions and temporal changes in incidenceHEMATOLOGICAL ONCOLOGY, Issue 3 2004G. Broccia Abstract We have collected, by an active retrospective survey, all the cases of hematologic malignancies (HM) newly diagnosed during the time period 1974,1993 in the resident population of Sardinia. Diagnosis was deemed valid, after consultation of clinical records, in more than 90% of the 7264 collected cases. The number of newly diagnosed cases by year more than doubled during the 20-year period investigated. This striking increase can be only partially accounted for by ageing of population. Indeed, age-specific and age-adjusted rates of most of HM increased during this period, although Hodgkin Disease (HD), Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) and Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) were notable exceptions. The observed increase in rates is likely, in a large part, to be fictitious, due to easier access to a health care system, which in the meantime, improved its diagnostic efficiency. This was particularly evident for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), Multiple Myeloma (MM) and some others myelo- and lympho-proliferative disorders, but its relevance declined after 1984,1989. A likely true increase in occurrence was evidenced for Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas (NHL) and similarly, although to a lesser extent and more doubtful, for Myelodysplasias (MDS) and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). At the end of the studied period each type of HM presented age and sex distributions and age-adjusted rates that show only minor differences from those reported for other western countries. No argument emerged to suggest that any genetic peculiarities of the Sardinian population might have affected the occurrence of HM. The confounding effects of improved diagnostic efficiency have prevented a reliable assessment of influence on incidences of environmental and socio-economic changes that, in relatively recent times, have occurred in Sardinia. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Activated Stat3 expression in gestational trophoblastic disease: correlation with clinicopathological parameters and apoptotic indicesHISTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 2 2008H Y Chan Aims:, To assess the expression profile of the activated form of signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat)3 in gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) and correlate the findings with clinicopathological parameters. Methods and results:, By immunohistochemistry, both cytoplasmic and nuclear expression of p-Stat3-Ser727 was demonstrated in 88 trophoblastic tissues, including placentas and GTD. Nuclear immunoreactivity of p-Stat3-Ser727 was significantly higher in hydatidiform mole (HM) (P < 0.001) and choriocarcinoma (P = 0.009) when compared with normal placentas. Placental site trophoblastic tumours (PSTT) and epithelioid trophoblastic tumours (ETT) also demonstrated higher nuclear p-Stat3-Ser727 expression than their normal trophoblast counterparts. Higher p-Stat3-Ser727 expression was confirmed in choriocarcinoma cell lines, JEG-3 and JAR, than in a normal trophoblast cell line, with both nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions demonstrated by immunoblotting. Spontaneously regressed HM showed significantly increased nuclear and cytoplasmic p-Stat3-Ser727 immunoreactivity over those that developed gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) (P = 0.013, P = 0.039). There was a significant positive and inverse correlation between nuclear p-Stat3-Ser727 immunoreactivity and apoptotic indices [terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP) nick end labelling and M30 CytoDeath antibody] (P = 0.001, P < 0.001, Spearman's , test) and Bcl-2 expression (P = 0.034), respectively. Conclusions:, p-Stat3-Ser727 plays a role in the pathogenesis of GTD, probably through the regulation of apoptosis. p-Stat3-Ser727 immunoreactivity is a potential marker in predicting GTN in HM. [source] Apoptotic activity in gestational trophoblastic disease correlates with clinical outcome: assessment by the caspase-related M30 CytoDeath antibodyHISTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 3 2001P M Chiu The objective of this study was to assess apoptotic activity in gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) and its prognostic value in hydatidiform mole (HM). Expression of the specific caspase cleavage site within cytokeratin 18 was assessed immunohistochemically using the monoclonal antibody M30 CytoDeath in 12 spontaneous abortions, 22 partial and 57 complete HM, eight choriocarcinoma (CCA) and 28 normal placentas. The M30 immunoreactivity occurred predominantly in the syncytiotrophoblasts. A significantly higher M30 index in HM and CCA was found when compared with normal placentas and spontaneous abortions (P < 0.001). The M30 index of those HM which spontaneously regressed was significantly higher than those HM which developed persistent disease requiring chemotherapy (P < 0.001). The M30 index correlated with another apoptotic index previously detected by TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) (P = 0.007) and the proliferation index assessed by the Ki67 antigen (P = 0.034). We conclude that apoptosis is important in the pathogenesis of GTD. Assessment of apoptotic activity in HM by the M30 index may be considered as an alternative prognostic indicator for predicting the clinical behaviour. [source] Coupled HM analysis using zero-thickness interface elements with double nodes.INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 18 2008Part I: Theoretical model Abstract In recent years, the authors have proposed a new double-node zero-thickness interface element for diffusion analysis via the finite element method (FEM) (Int. J. Numer. Anal. Meth. Geomech. 2004; 28(9): 947,962). In the present paper, that formulation is combined with an existing mechanical formulation in order to obtain a fully coupled hydro-mechanical (or HM) model applicable to fractured/fracturing geomaterials. Each element (continuum or interface) is formulated in terms of the displacements (u) and the fluid pressure (p) at the nodes. After assembly, a particular expression of the traditional ,u,p' system of coupled equations is obtained, which is highly non-linear due to the strong dependence between the permeability and the aperture of discontinuities. The formulation is valid for both pre-existing and developing discontinuities by using the appropriate constitutive model that relates effective stresses to relative displacements in the interface. The system of coupled equations is solved following two different numerical approaches: staggered and fully coupled. In the latter, the Newton,Raphson method is used, and it is shown that the Jacobian matrix becomes non-symmetric due to the dependence of the discontinuity permeability on the aperture. In the part II companion paper (Int. J. Numer. Anal. Meth. Geomech. 2008; DOI: 10.1002/nag.730), the formulation proposed is verified and illustrated with some application examples. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Coupled HM analysis using zero-thickness interface elements with double nodes,Part II: Verification and applicationINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 18 2008J. M. Segura Abstract In a companion Part I of this paper (Int. J. Numer. Anal. Meth. Geomech. 2008; DOI: 10.1002/nag.735), a coupled hydro-mechanical (HM) formulation for geomaterials with discontinuities based on the finite element method (FEM) with double-node, zero-thickness interface elements was developed and presented. This Part II paper includes the numerical solution of basic practical problems using both the staggered and the fully coupled approaches. A first group of simulations, based on the classical consolidation problem with an added vertical discontinuity, is used to compare both the approaches in terms of accuracy and convergence. The monolithic or fully coupled scheme is also used in an application example studying the influence of a horizontal joint in the performance of a reservoir subject to fluid extraction. Results include a comparison with other numerical solutions from the literature and a sensitivity analysis of the mechanical parameters of the discontinuity. Some simulations are also run using both a full non-symmetric and a simplified symmetric Jacobian matrix. On top of verifying the model developed and its capability to reflect the conductivity changes of the interface with aperture changes, the results presented also lead to interesting observations of the numerical performance of the methods implemented. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Modeling an industrial energy system: Perspectives on regional heat cooperationINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, Issue 9 2008S. Klugman Abstract Through energy efficiency measures, it is possible to reduce heat surplus in the pulp and paper industry. Yet pulp and paper mills situated in countries with a heat demand for residential and commercial buildings for the major part of the year are potential heat suppliers. However, striving to utilize the heat within the mills for efficient energy use could conflict with the delivery of excess heat to a district heating system. As part of a project to optimize a regional energy system, a sulfate pulp mill situated in central Sweden is analyzed, focusing on providing heat and electricity to the mill and its surrounding energy systems. An energy system optimization method based on mixed integer linear programming is used for studying energy system measures on an aggregated level. An extended system, where the mill is integrated in a regional heat market (HM), is evaluated in parallel with the present system. The use of either hot sewage or a heat pump for heat deliveries is analyzed along with process integration measures. The benefits of adding a condensing unit to the back-pressure steam turbine are also investigated. The results show that the use of hot sewage or a heat pump for heat deliveries is beneficial only in combination with extended heat deliveries to an HM. Process integration measures are beneficial and even increase the benefit of selling more heat for district heating. Adding a condensing turbine unit is most beneficial in combination with extended heat deliveries and process integration. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis to identify the genetic structure of the Gymnocypris przewalskii (Kessler, 1876) population from the Qinghai Basin, ChinaJOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 3 2005D. Chen Summary Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) was used to analyse the genetic structure of 45 individuals of Gymnocypris przewalskii (Kessler, 1876), an endangered and state-protected rare fish species, from three areas [the Heima (HM), Buha (BH) and Shaliu rivers (SL), all draining into Qinghai Lake]. A total of 563 polymorphic loci were detected. The HM, BH and SL populations have 435, 433 and 391 loci, respectively (Zhu and Wu, 1975), which account for 77.26%, 76.91% and 69.45% of the total number of polymorphic loci of each population, respectively. The Nei indices of genetic diversities (H) of the three populations were calculated to be 0.2869 (HM), 0.2884 (BH) and 0.2663 (SL), respectively. Their Shannon informative indices are 0.4244, 0.4251 and 0.3915, respectively. Research results show that the mean genetic distance between HM and BH is the smallest (0.0511), between BH and SL is the second shortest (0.0608), and between HM and SL is the largest (0.0713), with the mean genetic distance among the three populations being over 0.05. Data mentioned above indicate that the three populations have a certain genetic differentiation. The total genetic diversity (Ht = 0.3045) and the mean value of genetic diversity within the population (Hs = 0.2786) indicate that the variations have mainly come from within the population. [source] Home Monitoring in Patients with Implantable Cardiac Devices: Is There a Potential Reduction of Stroke Risk?JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 11 2009Results from a Computer Model Tested Through Monte Carlo Simulations Introduction: Patients with pacemakers and implantable defibrillators (ICD) may experience asymptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF), detected with a delay depending on the in-person follow-up schedule. Home monitoring (HM) remote control with automatic alerts for AF may drive early anticoagulation, potentially reducing stroke risk. Methods and Results: A sample of 136 pacemaker (103) and ICD (33) patients with or without cardiac resynchronization therapy not taking anticoagulation at implant were monitored remotely with HM. Upon HM alerts for AF, patients were recalled to update therapy. Two-year data were entered in a computer Monte Carlo model, simulating 4,000 virtual subjects with the same AF and CHADS2 stroke risk distribution of our real population. Simulations reproduced a 2-year follow-up. Two thousand subjects were supposed to be followed with HM (HM group) and 2,000 with standard in-person follow-up (SF group) at 3, 6, 9, or 12 months. Two-year Kaplan-Meier cumulative probability of ,24-hour AF was 15.6% (95%CI 8.5,23.3%); the AF-related symptom rate was 27% and the median CHADS2 score was 2. As a result of simulations, stroke incidence in case of AF was 2.3 ± 1.1% in the HM group and 2.4 ± 1.1%, 2.5 ± 1.2%, 2.7 ± 1.2%, and 2.9 ± 1.3% in the SF group with 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month follow-up programs, with odds ratios of 0.97 (95%CI 0.93,1.01), 0.91 (0.88,0.95), 0.87 (0.84,0.90), and 0.82 (0.79,0.85) (HM better if odds ratios <1), respectively. Conclusions: Daily HM potentially reduces the stroke risk by 9% to 18% with respect to SF with intervisit intervals of 6 to 12 months. [source] Quantitative structure,activity relationship study on the inhibitors of fatty acid amide hydrolaseJOURNAL OF CHEMOMETRICS, Issue 9 2010Peng Lu Abstract A quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) analysis was performed on the values of a series of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitors. Six molecular descriptors selected by CODESSA software were used as inputs to perform heuristic method (HM) and support vector machine (SVM). The results obtained by SVM were compared with those obtained by the HM. The root mean square errors (RMSEs) for the training set given by HM and SVM were 0.555 and 0.404, respectively, which shows that the performance of the SVM model is better than that of the HM model. This paper provides a new and effective method for predicting the activity of FAAH inhibitors. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Harm minimization strategies: opinions of health professionals in rural and remote AustraliaJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 5 2007G. M. Peterson BPharm (Hons) PhD MBA Summary Background and objective: There is some evidence that the problem of illicit drug use (IDU) is increasing in rural areas of Australia. Lack of access to harm minimization (HM) strategies is potentially exacerbated by a shortage of health care facilities and health care professionals in rural areas. This study was conducted to determine barriers to implementation, access to, and success of HM strategies, as seen by health professionals presently working in rural Australia. Methods: Four hundred rural pharmacists Australia-wide and 425 doctors in rural Victoria and Tasmania were sent postal surveys to assess their opinions on the level of IDU in their area, the types of drugs commonly used, the adequacy of HM strategies and facilities, and the barriers faced by doctors, pharmacists and clients. Results: The overall response rate was almost 50%. Slightly less than half of surveyed health professionals felt that IDU was increasing in their area, with heroin perceived to be the most prevalent drug used in all States except Tasmania and the Northern Territory. Both methadone prescribers and dispensers believed the methadone maintenance programmes were highly valuable to the community, but not without problems (e.g. risk of overdose). A lack of time or staff was the greatest influence on doctors not participating in the methadone programmes, whereas safety concerns were prominent with pharmacists. The majority of doctors felt HM facilities were inadequate, with needle-syringe exchange being the most frequently nominated HM strategy lacking. Conclusion: Despite best intentions, there are still problems with HM strategies in these areas. Improving the number and expertise of health professionals in rural areas, and providing adequate support for them, would address some of these problems. [source] Liesegang rings in an apocrine hidrocystoma: a case report and review of literatureJOURNAL OF CUTANEOUS PATHOLOGY, Issue 10 2010Heidi M. Gilchrist Liesegang rings represent an in vivo chemical precipitation phenomenon representing a potential diagnostic pitfall for misdiagnosis as parasitic infections. These acellular patterns of lamellar concretions are rare in human tissue. The authors report a case of Liesegang rings observed within an intradermal apocrine hidrocystoma and review the literature for reports of these structures, with particular emphasis on mucocutaneous lesions. Gilchrist HM, Wick MR, Patterson JW. Liesegang rings in an apocrine hidrocystoma. [source] Rapid evolution towards heavy metal resistance by mountain birch around two subarctic copper,nickel smeltersJOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2008J. K. ERÄNEN Abstract Adaptations to pollution among long-lived trees have rarely been documented, possibly because of their long reproductive cycles and the evolutionarily short timescales of anthropogenic pollution. Here, I present the results of a greenhouse experiment that suggest rapid evolutionary adaptation of mountain birch [Betula pubescens subsp. czerepanovii (Orlova) Hämet-Ahti] to heavy metal (HM) stress around two copper,nickel smelters in NW Russia. The adaptation incurs a cost with reduced performance of adapted seedlings in pristine conditions. The industrial barrens around the studied smelters are extremely high-stress sites with low seed germination and survival. It is likely that strong natural selection has eliminated all sensitive genotypes within one or two generations, with only the most tolerant individuals persisting and producing adapted seeds in the individual barrens. The results were similar from around both smelters, suggesting parallel evolution towards HM resistance. [source] Craniofacial morphology in patients with hypophosphataemic vitamin-D-resistant rickets: a cephalometric studyJOURNAL OF ORAL REHABILITATION, Issue 7 2009S. H. AL-JUNDI Summary, Hypophosphataemic vitamin-D-resistant rickets (HVDRR) is a hereditary disease mainly transmitted as an X-linked dominant trait and characterized by certain general clinical signs (Filho HM, de Castro LC, Damiani D. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab. 2006;50:802). In literature, only one study had been published in 1965 on the cephalometric findings in patients with HVDRR (Marks SC, Lindahl RL, Bawden JW. J Dent Child. 1965;32:259). This is the first detailed study on craniofacial characteristics of patients with HVDRR in the dental literature. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of HVDRR on the parameters of the craniofacial skeleton of young Jordanian patients using cephalometric analysis. Lateral cephalometric radiographs were made for 22 Jordanian children (aged 2,16 years) diagnosed with HVDRR. The cephalometeric parameters of HVDRR group were compared with those of normal control group matched for gender and chronological age using paired t -test. The HVDRR group had a significant increase in the SNBa angle (P < 0·01); as well as reduced anterior cranial base length (P = 0·01), reduced maxillary length, corpus mandibular length and mandibular height (P = 0·01, 0·04 and 0·008 respectively). The cranial base and gonial angles were significantly increased in diseased individual, but the SNA and ANB angles were significantly reduced (P = 0·018 and 0·000 respectively). The angulation of the lower incisor to mandibular plane was also significantly reduced in the diseased group compared with Jordanian norm (P = 0·004). Patients with HVDRR have deficiency in the anterior cranial base length, ramus height and cranial base angle. Patients with HVDRR also have class III skeletal relationship. [source] Effect of mixing method on rheological properties of alginate impression materialsJOURNAL OF ORAL REHABILITATION, Issue 7 2002K. Inoue The apparent viscosity of alginate impression paste prepared by three mixing methods (hand-mixing technique (HM), semiautomatic instrument (SM) and automatic mixing instrument (AM)), and the gel strength and surface depression of the respective set materials were measured. The materials used were eight commercially available products mixed at a temperature of 23 ± 0.5 °C and allowed to set. The AM had a high mixing speed, which reduced the working time 4.4,31.5%, compared with HM. This was the result of an increase in paste temperature during mixing. In the case of impression materials mixed with the AM, the gel strength and the surface depression at the gel fracture increased significantly, in accordance with Fisher's protected least significant difference (PLSD) analysis. This phenomenon is caused by a decrease of air bubbles in the set material. [source] Heavy-metal displacement in chelate-treated soil with sludge during phytoremediationJOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION AND SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 6 2006Stanley Liphadzi Abstract Heavy metals (HMs) in domestic sewage sludge, applied to land, contaminate soils. Phytoremediation is the use of plants to clean-up toxic HMs from soil. Chelating agents are added to soil to solubilize the metals for enhanced uptake. Yet no studies report the displacement of HMs in soil with sludge following solubilization with chelates. The objective of this work was to determine the uptake or leaching of HMs due to a chelate added to a soil from a sludge farm that had received sludge for 25 y. The soil was placed in long columns (105,cm long; , 39,cm) in a greenhouse. Columns either had a plant (hybrid poplar; Populus deltoides Marsh. × P. nigra L.) or no plant. After the poplar seedlings had grown for 144 d, the tetrasodium salt of the chelating agent EDTA was irrigated onto the surface of the soil at a rate of 1 g per,kg of soil. Drainage water, soil, and plants were analyzed for three toxic HMs (Cd, Ni, Pb) and four essential HMs (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn). At harvest, extractable and total concentrations of each HM in the soil with EDTA were similar to those in soil without EDTA. The chelate did not affect the concentrations of HMs in the roots or leaves. With or without plants, EDTA mobilized all seven HMs and increased their concentrations in drainage water. Lower concentrations of Cd, Cu, Fe, Ni, and Zn in leachate from columns with EDTA and plants compared to columns with EDTA and no plants showed that poplars can reduce groundwater contamination by intercepting these HMs in the soil. But the poplar plants did not reduce Pb and Mn in the leachate from columns with EDTA. Concentrations of Cd and Pb in the leachate mobilized by EDTA remained above drinking-water standards with or without plants. The results showed that a chelate (EDTA) should not be added to a soil at a sludge farm to enhance phytoremediation. The chelate mobilized HMs that leached to drainage water and contaminated it. [source] RHEOLOGICAL, TEXTURAL AND MICROSTRUCTURE ANALYSIS OF THE HIGH-METHOXY PECTIN/GELATIN MIXED SYSTEMSJOURNAL OF TEXTURE STUDIES, Issue 5 2007H. LIU ABSTRACT The aim of this research was to evaluate the interaction between high-methoxy pectin and gelatin in solution and mixed gel utilizing rheological, texture profile and microstructure analysis. The results showed that the phase separation and association might both exist depending on the ratio of pectin to gelatin in the mixed system. After the pectin addition to the mixed system, the gelation properties of gelatin were improved at suitable conditions. The structure development rate, gel hardness and gel brittleness of the pectin/gelatin mixed system were positively affected by the addition of pectin and from there to expand the application of the mixed system in food industry. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Structure-forming polysaccharides and protein provide desired functional properties to a wide range of foods such as gel confectionery products, milk products and fat replacers. As an academic paper, this article provided the information that high-methoxy (HM) pectin could prove the gelation properties of gelatin to corporate audiences. We could find that the ratio of HM pectin to gelatin, and the concentration of these two polymers, dictate the texture properties of the mixed system. The pectin addition to the gelatin system affected the structure development rate, which might save time when the products are processed in practice. The melting temperature was increased with the pectin addition to the gelatin system, which is favorable if it is to be kept under higher temperature. [source] Osteopontin is expressed and functional in human eosinophilsALLERGY, Issue 2 2010I. Puxeddu To cite this article: Puxeddu I, Berkman N, Ribatti D, Bader R, Haitchi HM, Davies DE, Howarth PH, Levi-Schaffer F. Osteopontin is expressed and functional in human eosinophils. Allergy 2010; 65: 168,174. Abstract Background:, Eosinophils are critically involved in allergic inflammation and tissue remodeling. Osteopontin (OPN) is a glycoprotein molecule which exhibits pro-fibrogenic and pro-angiogenic properties and has recently also been implicated in allergic diseases. In this study, we investigated the expression and function of OPN in human eosinophils. Methods:, Osteopontin mRNA (RT-PCR) and protein (immunofluorescence) expression in peripheral blood eosinophils from atopic human subjects were evaluated. Soluble OPN release was determined in resting and activated eosinophils. The contribution of OPN to eosinophil-induced angiogenesis was determined using the chick embryo chorio- allantoic membrane (CAM) assay and OPN-induced eosinophil chemotaxis was determined (ChemoTx System microplate wells). Finally, OPN expression in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids from mild asthmatic and normal control subjects was determined. Results:, Osteopontin is expressed in human eosinophils and is increased following GM-CSF and IL-5 activation. Eosinophil-derived OPN contributes to eosinophil-induced angiogenesis. Recombinant OPN promotes eosinophil chemotaxis in vitro and this effect is mediated by ,4,1 integrin binding. Soluble OPN is increased in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from mild asthmatic subjects and correlates with eosinophil counts. Conclusions:, We therefore conclude that OPN is likely to contribute to the process of angiogenesis observed in the airways in asthma. [source] Quantitative Structure,Activity Relationship Study on Fish Toxicity of Substituted BenzenesMOLECULAR INFORMATICS, Issue 8 2008Zhiguo Gong Abstract Many chemicals cause latent harm, such as erratic diseases and change of climate, and therefore it is necessary to evaluate environmentally safe levels of dangerous chemicals. Quantitative Structure,Toxicity Relationship (QSTR) analysis has become an indispensable tool in ecotoxicological risk assessments. Our paper used QSTR to deal with the modeling of the acute toxicity of 92 substituted benzenes. The molecular descriptors representing the structural features of the compounds were calculated by CODESSA program. Heuristic Method (HM) and Radial Basis Function Neural Networks (RBFNNs) were utilized to construct the linear and the nonlinear QSTR models, respectively. The predictive results were in agreement with the experimental values. The optimal QSTR model which was established based on RBFNNs gave a correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.893, 0.876, 0.889 and Root-Mean-Square Error (RMSE) of 0.220, 0.205, 0.218 for the training set, the test set, and the whole set, respectively. RBFNNs proved to be a very good method to assess acute aquatic toxicity of these compounds, and more importantly, the RBFNNs model established in this paper has fewer descriptors and better results than other models reported in previous literatures. The current model allows a more transparent chemical interpretation of the acute toxicity in terms of intermolecular interactions. [source] QSAR Models for the Dermal Penetration of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Based on Gene Expression ProgrammingMOLECULAR INFORMATICS, Issue 7 2008Tao Wang Abstract Gene Expression Programming (GEP) is a novel machine learning technique. The GEP is used to build nonlinear quantitative structure activity relationship model for the prediction of the Percent of Applied Dose Dermally Absorbed (PADA) over 24,h for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. This model is based on descriptors which are calculated from the molecular structure. Three descriptors are selected from the descriptors pool by Heuristic Method (HM) to build a multivariable linear model. The GEP method produced a nonlinear quantitative model with a correlation coefficient and a mean error of 0.92 and 4.70 for the training set, 0.91 and 7.65 for the test set, respectively. It is shown that the GEP predicted results are in good agreement with experimental ones. [source] Prediction of Volatile Components Retention Time in Blackstrap Molasses by Least-Squares Support Vector MachineMOLECULAR INFORMATICS, Issue 5 2008Yongna Yuan Abstract House flies are pestiferous insects that have the potential to spread many diseases to humans and livestock, so it is very significant for us to manage house fly populations. Many commercial types of bait are available to attract house flies, but most are designed for outdoor or limited indoor use, due to their malodorous components. This study sought to identify compounds present in blackstrap molasses that might be attractive to house flies. An effective Quantitative Structure-Property Relationship (QSPR) model between the Retention Time (RT) and five molecular descriptors of the volatile compounds in blackstrap molasses, was built using a modified algorithm of Least-Squares Support Vector Machine (LS-SVM). Descriptors calculated from the molecular structures alone were used to represent the characteristics of compounds. The five molecular descriptors selected by the Heuristic Method (HM) in CODESSA were used as inputs for LS-SVM. The results obtained by LS-SVM were compared with those obtained by the HM. The LS-SVM model gives better results with the predicted correlation coefficient () 0.919 and Root Mean-Square Errors (RMSE) 2.193 for the test set, as well as that 0.824 and 2.728 in the MLR model. The prediction results of log RT are in very good agreement with the experimental values. This paper provided a new and effective method for predicting the chromatography retention index. [source] Remote, Wireless, Ambulatory Monitoring of Implantable Pacemakers, Cardioverter Defibrillators, and Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Systems: Analysis of a Worldwide DatabasePACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 2007ARNAUD LAZARUS M.D. Study Objective: To describe the daily routine application of a new telemonitoring system in a large population of cardiac device recipients. Methods: Data transmitted daily and automatically by a remote, wireless Home MonitoringÔ system (HM) were analyzed. The average time gained in the detection of events using HM versus standard practice and the impact of HM on physician workload were examined. The mean interval between device interrogations was used to compare the rates of follow-up visits versus that recommended in guidelines. Results: 3,004,763 transmissions were made by 11,624 recipients of pacemakers (n = 4,631), defibrillators (ICD; n = 6,548), and combined ICD + cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT-D) systems (n = 445) worldwide. The duration of monitoring/patient ranged from 1 to 49 months, representing 10,057 years. The vast majority (86%) of events were disease-related. The mean interval between last follow-up and occurrence of events notified by HM was 26 days, representing a putative temporal gain of 154 and 64 days in patients usually followed at 6- and 3-month intervals, respectively. The mean numbers of events per patient per month reported to the caregivers for the overall population was 0.6. On average, 47.6% of the patients were event-free. The mean interval between follow-up visits in patients with pacemakers, single-chamber ICDs, dual chamber ICDs, and CRT-D systems were 5.9 ± 2.1, 3.6 ± 3.3, 3.3 ± 3.5, and 1.9 ± 2.9 months, respectively. Conclusions: This broad clinical application of a new monitoring system strongly supports its capability to improve the care of cardiac device recipients, enhance their safety, and optimize the allocation of health resources. [source] Magnetic and electronic properties of transition metal nitride strained layersPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (C) - CURRENT TOPICS IN SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 2 2007M. Ribeiro Jr. Abstract We present a theoretical study with ab initio techniques on magnetic and electronic properties of 3d transition metal mononitrides. We perform the calculations in the wurtzite (w) and the zincblende (zb) structures, and find the tendency of all zb mononitrides to become half-metallic (HM) under hydrostatic strain. MnN, CrN, and VN become HM with integer magnetic moments of 4, 3 and 2,B, respectively. CrN shows ferromagnetism (FM) throughout the range of our lattice constant calculations, while VN is FM beyond the lattice constant of 4.65 Å. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Retracted: A new inducible adenoviral expression system that responds to inflammatory stimuli in vivo (J Gene Med 2006; 8(12): 1369,1378)THE JOURNAL OF GENE MEDICINE, Issue 5 2007Article first published online: 1 MAY 200 This paper, by Gang Cai, Xiaomeng Nie, Pin'e Guo, Zheng Guan, Jun Zhang and Qian Shen (DOI: 10.1002/jgm.983) has been retracted by agreement between the journal Editors and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. The retraction has been agreed due to overlap with text from "An inflammation-inducible adenoviral expression system for local treatment of the arthritic joint" by van de Loo FAJ, de Hooge ASK, Smeets RL, Bakker AC, Bennink MB, Arntz OJ, Joosten LAB, van Beuningen HM, van der Kraan PK, Varley AW and van den Berg WB (Gene Therapy 2004; 11: 581,590) and other published papers. There is also similarity of experimental design compared to the van de Loo et al. paper, which was not cited by Cai et al. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||