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High Intensity (high + intensity)
Kinds of High Intensity Selected AbstractsOsteopontin expression correlates with invasiveness in cervical cancerAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 4 2009Jae Yun SONG Aim: Osteopontin is a secreted, integrin-binding glycophosphoprotein that is overexpressed in many types of cancers and appears to be involved in carcinogenesis and cancer progression. To understand the role of osteopontin in carcinogenesis of cervical cancer, this study was designed to determine whether osteopontin is expressed in cervical cancer and carcinoma in situ (CIS) tissue as well as in normal cervical tissue. Methods: The expression of osteopontin was immunohistochemically analysed from 68 normal cervix, 55 CIS and 52 invasive cervical cancer tissues using a paraffin-embedded tissue array. Immunostaining was evaluated by intensity and the percentage of stained cells. Results: Osteopontin expression in normal, CIS and cervical cancer tissues was two of 68 (2.9%), 43 of 55 (78.2%) and 46 of 52 (88.4%), respectively (P < 0.01). High intensity (strong positive)/high proportion (more than 50%) staining seen in CIS and cervical cancer tissue samples was 45 of 55 (81.8%)/22 of 55 (40.0%) and 50 of 52 (96.2%)/31 of 52 (59.7%), respectively (P = 0.029 and P = 0.054). There was no significant correlation between the immunostaining score and stage and the immunostaining score and survival. Conclusion: Osteopontin may have a potential use as a diagnostic factor for cervical cancer and osteopontin expression is closely correlated with carcinogenesis and invasion of cervical cancer. [source] Does infectious disease cause global variation in the frequency of intrastate armed conflict and civil war?BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS, Issue 3 2010Kenneth Letendre Geographic and cross-national variation in the frequency of intrastate armed conflict and civil war is a subject of great interest. Previous theory on this variation has focused on the influence on human behaviour of climate, resource competition, national wealth, and cultural characteristics. We present the parasite-stress model of intrastate conflict, which unites previous work on the correlates of intrastate conflict by linking frequency of the outbreak of such conflict, including civil war, to the intensity of infectious disease across countries of the world. High intensity of infectious disease leads to the emergence of xenophobic and ethnocentric cultural norms. These cultures suffer greater poverty and deprivation due to the morbidity and mortality caused by disease, and as a result of decreased investment in public health and welfare. Resource competition among xenophobic and ethnocentric groups within a nation leads to increased frequency of civil war. We present support for the parasite-stress model with regression analyses. We find support for a direct effect of infectious disease on intrastate armed conflict, and support for an indirect effect of infectious disease on the incidence of civil war via its negative effect on national wealth. We consider the entanglements of feedback of conflict into further reduced wealth and increased incidence of disease, and discuss implications for international warfare and global patterns of wealth and imperialism. [source] Assessment of the convergent validity of the Questions About Behavioral Function scale with analogue functional analysis and the Motivation Assessment ScaleJOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, Issue 6 2001T. R. Paclawskyj Abstract The present study examined the convergent validity of the Questions About Behavioral Function (QABF) scale, a behavioural checklist for assessing variables maintaining aberrant behaviour, with analogue functional analyses and the Motivation Assessment Scale (MAS). The two checklists were more highly correlated with each other than either checklist with results from the analogue sessions, and the QABF was more highly correlated with analogue sessions than the MAS. Using analogue sessions, the experimenters failed to ascertain behavioural function for a number of subjects because the behaviour problems in question were low frequency/high intensity and failed to appear during the course of the analysis, pointing out a limitation of this technology. These findings, taken together with recent research outlining the psychometric properties of the QABF, seem to support the use of the QABF in a hierarchical model of functional analysis. The implications of the findings are discussed. [source] Shear wave velocity model of the Santiago de Chile basin derived from ambient noise measurements: a comparison of proxies for seismic site conditions and amplificationGEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2010Marco Pilz SUMMARY We determined a high-resolution 3-D S -wave velocity model for a 26 km × 12 km area in the northern part of the basin of Santiago de Chile. To reach this goal, we used microtremor recordings at 125 sites for deriving the horizontal-to-vertical (H/V) spectral ratios that we inverted to retrieve local S -wave velocity profiles. In the inversion procedure, we used additional geological and geophysical constraints and values of the thickness of the sedimentary cover already determined by gravimetric measurements, which were found to vary substantially over short distances in the investigated area. The resulting model was derived by interpolation with a kriging technique between the single S -wave velocity profiles and shows locally good agreement with the few existing velocity profile data, but allows the entire area, as well as deeper parts of the basin, to be represented in greater detail. The wealth of available data allowed us to check if any correlation between the S -wave velocity in the uppermost 30 m (v30S) and the slope of topography, a new technique recently proposed by Wald and Allen, exists on a local scale. We observed that while one lithology might provide a greater scatter in the velocity values for the investigated area, almost no correlation between topographic gradient and calculated v30S exists, whereas a better link is found between v30S and the local geology. Finally, we compared the v30S distribution with the MSK intensities for the 1985 Valparaiso event, pointing out that high intensities are found where the expected v30S values are low and over a thick sedimentary cover. Although this evidence cannot be generalized for all possible earthquakes, it indicates the influence of site effects modifying the ground motion when earthquakes occur well outside of the Santiago basin. [source] Dipole induced photodetachment dynamics of halide anionsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUANTUM CHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2008Chandan Kumar MondalArticle first published online: 1 MAY 200 Abstract In this article the dynamics of photodetachment from closed shell anion in the presence of two color (bichromatic) laser field have been explored in the context of polar environmental situation. The electronic states of halide ions are modeled by a one dimensional Hamiltonian with a potential V(x) = ,V0e. The two parameters V0 and , are fixed by requiring V(x) to reproduce the experimentally observed ground state ionization energy of the halide ion concerned. The potential so generated are shown to support only one bound state. The time-dependent Fourier grid Hamiltonian method is used to follow the detachment dynamics with fairly high intensities of light. The environmental effects on the dynamics are sought to be modeled by two ways i) allowing the well depth (V0) to fluctuate randomly V0(t) = V0[1+,VR(t)]; R(t) randomly fluctuates between +1 and ,1 with time, when ,V (strength of fluctuation) is fixed and ii) in the presence of perturbation produced by a neighboring solvent dipole, which changes the effective potential. The detachment rate constant is studied as a function of important system parameters of the used light field. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008 [source] Effects of grazing on geophytes in Mediterranean vegetationJOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE, Issue 6 2001Imanuel Noy-Meir Zohary & Feinbrun-Dothan (1966,1986) Abstract. The response of geophyte species diversity and frequency of individual geophyte species to cattle grazing was measured at 68 site pairs along fences separating ungrazed from grazed grassland and woodland on different geological formations in northern Israel. Over all site pairs, geophyte species density per 4 m2 was significantly greater in grazed (2.37) than in protected (1.96) sites of the same site pair. There was considerable variation between site pairs in the magnitude and in the direction of the grazing effect. Part of this variation could be explained by differences in site altitude and in geological formation. The positive effect of grazing on geophyte diversity was lower in sites with low productivity. Of 22 geophyte taxa for which sufficient data were available, nine indicated greater frequency in grazed sites compared to only two in ungrazed sites. In 11 other taxa the response was not consistent. A positive response to grazing was most common in geophytes with narrow leaves of the Iridaceae, Liliaceae and allied families. Conservation of the entire geophyte flora in Mediterranean vegetation requires livestock grazing at moderate to high intensities in parts of the area of each community, and light or no grazing in other parts. [source] The influence of oxygen on the friction and wear behaviour of a copper,steel couple under electric currentLUBRICATION SCIENCE, Issue 1 2004A. Bouchoucha Abstract The tribological behaviour of a copper,steel couple similar to those in electrified railways has been studied as a function of mechanical, electrical, and environmental parameters. The experimental results obtained in an oxygen atmosphere show that this factor has a major influence on the wear behaviour. While there was a reduction in the average coefficient of friction compared to in argon, under oxygen there was twice the wear found under air, and six times that found under argon. In the absence of an electric current, the nature of the wear was essentially mild adhesive. However, with an electric current at the interface, fluctuations, particularly at high intensities, were recorded in both the coefficient of friction and the electrical contact resistance, and there was severe wear. Discussion of the results is based on examination of the wear surfaces and analysis of the phenomena observed during sliding contact. [source] Shoot herbivory on the invasive plant, Centaurea maculosa, does not reduce its competitive effects on conspecifics and nativesOIKOS, Issue 3 2006Beth A. Newingham Herbivory can have negative, positive, or no effect on plants. However, insect biological control assumes that herbivory will negatively affect the weed and release natives from competition. Centaurea maculosa, an invader in North America, is tolerant to herbivory, and under some conditions, herbivory may increase its competitive effects on natives. Therefore, we investigated two hypotheses: 1) herbivory stimulates compensatory growth by C. maculosa, which increases its competitive effects, and 2) herbivory stimulates the allelopathic effect of C. maculosa. In the greenhouse, Trichoplusia ni shoot herbivory reduced C. maculosa biomass when shoot damage exceeded 40% of the total original leaf area. Conspecific neighbors had no effect on C. maculosa biomass, and the presence of the natives Festuca idahoensis and F. scabrella had a positive effect on C. maculosa. Neighbors did not alter the effects of shoot herbivory. More importantly, even intense shoot herbivory on C. maculosa did not benefit neighboring plants. In a field experiment, clipping 50% of C. maculosa aboveground biomass in the early summer and again in the late summer reduced final biomass by 40% at the end of the season; however, this clipping did not affect total biomass production or reproductive output. Festuca idahoensis neighbors did not increase the effects of clipping, and aboveground damage to C. maculosa did not release F. idahoensis from competition. In the greenhouse we used activated carbon to adsorb allelochemicals, which reduced the competitive effects of C. maculosa on F. idahoensis but not on F. scabrella or other C. maculosa. However, we found no increase in the allelopathic effects of C. maculosa after shoot herbivory. In summary, our results correspond with others indicating that exceptionally high intensities of herbivory are required to suppress C. maculosa growth and reproduction; however, even intense herbivory on C. maculosa does not insure that native bunchgrasses will benefit. [source] Excitation relaxation in copper selenide nanowiresPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (B) BASIC SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 5 2009Gediminas Ju Abstract Ultrafast nonequilibrium charge carrier relaxation in highly ordered Cu2,xSe nanowires of 8 nm, 13 nm and 25 nm diameter was investigated by means of femtosecond pump,probe absorption spectroscopy. Transient absorption bleaching was observed in the region of the near infrared absorption band, whereas an induced absorption dominated at higher energies. The transient absorption kinetics is almost independent of the excitation and probe wavelength and shows a biexpoenetial charge carrier recombination with the excitation intensity dependent decay rates. The initial ultrafast relaxation, which gets slower at higher excitation intensities, is followed by the slower decay component emerging at high intensities. These relaxation peculiarities are discussed in terms of recombination enhancement by intragap states, and relaxation kinetics is described by a theoretical model of two concurrent relaxation channels involving deep and shallow impurity levels. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Anomalous resonant nonlinear absorption of excitons in CdSe/ZnS quantum dotsPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (C) - CURRENT TOPICS IN SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 7 2008V. Dneprovskii Abstract We have explained the observed anomalous dependence of colloidal CdSe/ZnS quantum dots' (QDs) absorption upon the intensity of input picosecond laser pulses in the case of one-photon resonant excitation of exciton 1S3/2(h) , 1S (e) transition , the linear absorption at low intensity is replaced by nonlinear decreasing and then increasing of absorption (!) at high intensities , by saturation effect (state filling) of two-level system with variable lifetime of the excited state (variable saturation intensity). The lifetime decreases at high excitation due to nonradiative Auger recombination. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Optical spectra of quantum dots: effects of non-adiabaticityPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (C) - CURRENT TOPICS IN SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 4 2003J. T. Devreese Abstract It is shown that in many cases an adequate description of optical spectra of semiconductor quantum dots requires a treatment beyond the commonly used adiabatic approximation. We have developed a theory of phonon-assisted optical transitions in semiconductor quantum dots, which takes into account non-adiabaticity of the exciton,phonon system. Effects of non-adiabaticity lead to a mixing of different exciton and phonon states that provides a key to the understanding of surprisingly high intensities of phonon satellites observed in photoluminescence spectra of quantum dots. A breakdown of the adiabatic approximation gives an explanation also for discrepancies between the serial law, observed in multi-phonon optical spectra of some quantum dots, and the Franck,Condon progression, prescribed by the adiabatic approach. [source] Synchrotron white-beam X-ray topography of ribonuclease S crystalsACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D, Issue 4 2002W. M. Vetter With careful experimental design, indexed synchrotron white-beam X-ray topographs of ribonuclease S crystals at ambient temperature could be recorded with a definition and contrast comparable to that of monochromatic beam topographs of other proteins reported in the literature. By excluding wavelengths longer than 1,Å from the white beam with a filter, a radiation dose equivalent to that required to record about 18 topographs could be tolerated without appreciable radiation damage to the samples. Bragg angles of 0.5° or less were required to select low-index harmonically pure reflections with high intensities and extinction lengths only several times the sample's thickness. The resulting X-ray topographs in some cases showed topographic detail and in others showed the even featureless background that has been considered characteristic of a protein crystal of low mosaicity. The ribonuclease S crystals were well ordered single crystals of a quality comparable to other protein crystals that have been studied by X-ray topography. [source] Effect of intermittent and continuous exposure to electromagnetic fields on cultured hippocampal cellsBIOELECTROMAGNETICS, Issue 2 2002A. Boland Abstract This study was designed to assess the effect of 50 Hz electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on hippocampal cell cultures in the presence or absence of either sodium nitroprusside (SNP, a NO donor) or Fe2+ induced oxidative stress. One week old cultured rat hippocampal cells were exposed to either intermittent EMFs (IEMFs, 50 Hz, 0,5 mT, 1 min ON/OFF cycles, repeated 10 times every 2 h, 6 times/day during 48 h) or continuous EMFs (CEMFs, 50 Hz, 0,5 mT for 48 h). In a second set of experiments, the effect on such EMFs applied in combination with oxidative stress induced by 0.5 ,M Fe2+ or SNP was estimated. At the end of both sets of experiments, cell mortality was assessed by lactate dehydrogenase measurements (LDH). Neither type of exposure to EMFs was observed to modify the basal rate of cell mortality. The exposure to CEMFs in presence of either NO or Fe2+ did not induce any significant increase in cell death. However, when cells were exposed to EMFs in the presence of NO, we observed a significant increase in cell death of 11 and 23% (P<0.001) at 2.5 and 5 mT, respectively. This effect had some specificity because IEMFs did not modify the effect of Fe2+ on cell mortality. Although the effects of IEMFs reported in this study were only observed at very high intensities, our model may prove valuable in trying to identify one cellular target of EMFs. Bioelectromagnetics 23:97,105, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] A Novel Heavy-Atom Label for Side-Specific Peptide Iodination: Synthesis, Membrane Incorporation and X-ray ReflectivityCHEMPHYSCHEM, Issue 9-10 2009Philipp E. Schneggenburger Abstract A novel iodine peptide label for X-ray analysis of membrane-active peptide structures is applied to solid-phase peptide synthesis. The resulting pore-structured labeled peptide as well as a non-labeled reference were reconstituted in lipid bilayer stacks (see scheme). The results indicate the exhibition of a membrane-spanning ,5.6 -double helical peptide structure and illustrate the quality of the new label. Structural parameters, such as conformation, orientation and penetration depth of membrane-bound peptides and proteins that may function as channels, pores or biocatalysts, are of persistent interest and have to be probed in the native fluid state of a membrane. X-ray scattering in combination with heavy-atom labeling is a powerful and highly appropriate method to reveal the position of a certain amino acid residue within a lipid bilayer with respect to the membrane normal axis up to a resolution of several Ångstrøm. Herein, we report the synthesis of a new iodine-labeled amino acid building block. This building block is intended for peptide incorporation to provide high intensities for electron density difference analysis of X-ray reflectivity data and improve the labeling potential for the lipid bilayer head-group and water region. The novel building block as well as the commercially available non-iodinated analogue, required for X-ray scattering, was implemented in a transmembrane peptide motif via manual solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) following the fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-strategy. The derived peptides were reconstituted in lipid vesicles as well as in highly aligned multilamellar lipid stacks and investigated via circular dichroism (CD) and X-ray reflectivity. Thereby, it has been revealed that the bulky iodine probe neither causes conformational change of the peptide structure nor lamellar disordering of the membrane complexes. [source] Frequency of Seborrheic Keratosis Biopsies in the United States: A Benchmark of Skin Lesion Care Quality and Cost EffectivenessDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 8 2003Maria I. Duque MD Background. Most seborrheic keratoses may be readily clinically differentiated from skin cancer, but occasional lesions resemble atypical melanocytic neoplasms. Objective. To evaluate the frequency, cost, and intensity of procedures performed that result in the removal and histopathologic evaluation of seborrheic keratoses. Methods. Episodes of surgical removal of lesions that were identified as seborrheic keratoses by histologic identification were determined using Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey data from 1998 to 1999. These episodes were defined by a histopathology procedure code that is associated with a diagnosis code for seborrheic keratosis. We then identified what procedure(s) generated the histopathology specimen. Biopsy and shave procedures were considered "low intensity," whereas excision and repair procedures were considered "high intensity." Results. Dermatologists managed 85% of all episodes of seborrheic keratoses. Dermatologists managed 89% of seborrheic keratosis episodes using low-intensity procedures compared with 51% by other specialties. For nondermatologists, 46% of the treatment cost ($9 million) to Medicare was generated from high-intensity management compared with 15% by dermatologists ($6 million). Conclusion. There is a significant difference in the management of suspicious pigmented lesions between dermatologists and other specialists. This affects both the cost and quality of care. [source] The global challenge of type 2 diabetes and the strategies for response in ethnic minority groupsDIABETES/METABOLISM: RESEARCH AND REVIEWS, Issue 6 2010Flavio Lirussi Abstract Ethnic minorities living in high-income countries usually exhibit a greater risk of developing diabetes along with higher morbidity and mortality rates. We evaluated the effectiveness of interventions to improve glycaemic control in ethnic minority groups. Results of major controlled trials, systematic reviews and meta-analyses were included in the review. Only 1/47 studies addressing diet and exercise interventions reported details on the ethnicity of the studied population. Self-management education was successful if associated with increased self-efficacy; delivered over a longer period; of high intensity; culturally tailored; and when using community educators. Strategies adopted in community-gathering places, family-based, multifaceted, and those tackling the social context were likely to be more effective. A positive relationship was found between social support and self-management behaviour as well as quality of life, but there is little evidence about the impact of organizational changes within health-care services on diabetes control. More research is needed to strengthen the evidence on effective strategies for response to diabetes in ethnic minorities. Also, there is a need to take into account diabetes beliefs and communication difficulties, as well as potential protective factors. Globally, many health-care systems are inadequately equipped to improve diabetes prevention and disease outcomes in these communities. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The First-Episode Psychosis Outcome Study: premorbid and baseline characteristics of an epidemiological cohort of 661 first-episode psychosis patientsEARLY INTERVENTION IN PSYCHIATRY, Issue 2 2007Philippe Conus Abstract Aims:, Studies conducted in first-episode psychosis (FEP) samples avoid many biases. However, very few studies are based on epidemiological cohorts treated in specialized FEP services. The aim of this file audit study was to examine premorbid and baseline characteristics of a large epidemiological sample of FEP. Methods:, File audit study of all patients admitted to the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre between 1998 and 2000 using a specialized questionnaire. Results:, There were 661 patient files included in the study. Premorbid evaluation revealed high rates of substance use disorder (74.1%), history of psychiatric disorder (47.5%), past traumatic events (82.7%) suicide attempts (14.3%) and family history of psychiatric illness (55.6%). Baseline characteristics revealed high intensity of illness (mean CGI 5.5), high prevalence of lack of insight (62%) and high rate of comorbidity (70%). Conclusion:, High rates of traumatic events or episodes of mental illness before treatment for FEP must be considered when designing treatment approaches because a too narrow focus on positive psychotic symptoms will inevitably lead to incomplete treatment. Additionally, early intervention programmes need sufficient range of resources to address the multiple challenges presented by FEP patients such as high severity of illness, comorbidities and functional impairment. Finally, observation of an important degree of functional impairment despite short duration of untreated psychosis suggests that while early detection of FEP is a necessary step in early intervention, it may not be sufficient to improve functional recovery in psychosis and that efforts aimed at identifying people during the prodromal phase of psychotic disorders should be pursued. [source] Slope development reconstruction at two sites in the Bohemian Forest MountainsEARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, Issue 4 2010Filip Hartvich Abstract Although the Bohemian Forest is generally considered to be geomorphologically a rather stable region, there are localities which bear proof of a surprisingly high intensity of recent and even present day processes. A multidisciplinary methodology based on the analysis of slope systems was used for researching the present and past dynamics of two hillslopes. Using the results of direct dilatometric monitoring (the slow creep of rock blocks reached a maximum of 1,mm year,1), GPS field mapping, sedimentology, geodetic measurements and DEM analyses, several common rules have been observed for the behaviour of two model localities and a likely polycyclic development established, with recurrence of mass-wasting cycles related to material supply thresholds. Radiometric dating of debris flow activity showed that the cycles span approximately 4000 years. In this area of rather stable bedrock conditions, at least two factors that decrease slope stability need to act together to activate slope processes: i.e. a favourable structural predisposition (dip of major joint or bedding planes) and an increase in relief through either glaciation or river incision. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Cooling Abolishes Neuronal Network Synchronization in Rat Hippocampal SlicesEPILEPSIA, Issue 6 2002Sam P. Javedan Summary: ,Purpose: We sought to determine whether cooling brain tissue from 34 to 21°C could abolish tetany-induced neuronal network synchronization (gamma oscillations) without blocking normal synaptic transmission. Methods: Intracellular and extracellular electrodes recorded activity in transverse hippocampal slices (450,500 ,m) from Sprague,Dawley male rats, maintained in an air,fluid interface chamber. Gamma oscillations were evoked by afferent stimulation at 100 Hz for 200 ms. Baseline temperature in the recording chamber was 34°C, reduced to 21°C within 20 min. Results: Suprathreshold tetanic stimuli evoked membrane potential oscillations in the 40-Hz frequency range (n = 21). Gamma oscillations induced by tetanic stimulation were blocked by bicuculline, a ,-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A -receptor antagonist. Cooling from 34 to 21°C reversibly abolished gamma oscillations in all slices tested. Short, low-frequency discharges persisted after cooling in six of 14 slices. Single-pulse,evoked potentials, however, were preserved after cooling in all cases. Latency between stimulus and onset of gamma oscillation was increased with cooling. Frequency of oscillation was correlated with chamber cooling temperature (r = 0.77). Tetanic stimulation at high intensity elicited not only gamma oscillation, but also epileptiform bursts. Cooling dramatically attenuated gamma oscillation and abolished epileptiform bursts in a reversible manner. Conclusions: Tetany-induced neuronal network synchronization by GABAA -sensitive gamma oscillations is abolished reversibly by cooling to temperatures that do not block excitatory synaptic transmission. Cooling also suppresses transition from gamma oscillation to ictal bursting at higher stimulus intensities. These findings suggest that cooling may disrupt network synchrony necessary for epileptiform activity. [source] Visual response augmentation in cat (and macaque) LGN: potentiation by corticofugally mediated gain control in the temporal domainEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 4 2000Javier Cudeiro Abstract Visual responses of neurons are dependent on the context of a stimulus, not only in spatial terms but also temporally, although evidence for temporally separate visual influences is meagre, based mainly on studies in the higher cortex. Here we demonstrate temporally induced elevation of visual responsiveness in cells in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) of cat and monkey following a period of high intensity (elevated contrast) stimulation. This augmentation is seen in 40,70% (monkey,cat) of cells tested and of all subtypes. Peaking at ,,3 min following the period of intense stimulation, it can last for 10,12 min and can be repeated and summed in time. Furthermore, it is dependent on corticofugal input, is seen even when high contrast stimuli of orthogonal orientation are used and therefore results from a/any prior increase in activity in the retino-geniculo-striate pathway. We suggest that this reflects a general mechanism for control of visual responsiveness; both a flexible and dynamic means of changing effectiveness of thalamic activity as visual input changes, but also a mechanism which is an emergent property of the thalamo-cortico-thalamic loop. [source] A classification of drainage and macropore flow in an agricultural catchmentHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 1 2002Dr C. M. Heppell Abstract This paper uses a variety of multivariate statistical techniques in order to improve current understanding of the antecedent and rainfall controls on drainage characteristics for an agricultural underdrained clay site. Using the dataset obtained from a two-year hillslope study at Wytham (Oxfordshire, UK) a number of patterns in the nature and style of drainage events were explored. First, using principal components analysis, a distinction was drawn between drainflow controlled by antecedent conditions and drainflow controlled by rainfall characteristics. Dimensional analysis then distinguished between two further types of drainflow event: antecedent limited events (ALE) and non-antecedent limited events (NALE). These were drainflow events requiring a minimum antecedent hydraulic head to occur (ALE) and events that occurred in response to rainfall irrespective of the antecedent conditions, because the rainfall was either of high enough intensity or duration to prompt a response in drainflow (NALE). 2. The dataset also made possible a preliminary investigation into the controls on and types of macropore flow at the site. Principal components analysis identified that rainfall characteristics were more important than antecedent conditions in generating high proportions of macropore flow in drainflow. Of the rainfall characteristics studied, rainfall amount and intensity were the dominant controls on the amount of macropore flow, with duration as a secondary control. Two styles of macropore flow were identified: intensity-driven and duration-driven. Intensity-driven events are characterized by rainfall of high intensity and short duration. During such events the amount of macropore flow is proportional to the rainfall intensity and the interaction between macropore and matrix flow is kinetically limited. The second style of macropore flow is characterized by long-duration events. For these events the amount of macropore flow approaches a maximum value whatever the rainfall duration. This suggests that these events are characterized by an equilibrium interaction between macropores and matrix flow. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Long-term results of three different minimally invasive therapies for lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia: Comparison at a single instituteINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 4 2007Takashi Ohigashi Objective: We analyzed the efficacy and durability of three different minimally invasive therapies (MIT) for lower urinary symptoms performed at a single institution based on a 5-year prospective cohort study. Methods: The pre- and postoperative evaluation was made in 103 patients with the following three MIT options: (i) transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT, n = 34); (ii) transurethral needle ablation (TUNA, n = 29); and (iii) transrectal high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU, n = 40). Results: All three treatments significantly improved the symptom scores up to 2 years after treatment. However, no statistical difference was observed in the efficacy between MIT. The percentage of men requiring the secondary treatment also showed no statistical differences. Cox's proportional hazards multivariate regression model revealed the baseline peak flow rate (Qmax) and total International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) but the types of MIT are independent significant factors for determining the long-term clinical results of MIT. Conclusion: Our data showed no statistical differences in either the efficacy or in the durability between the three MIT. The baseline Qmax and total IPSS are the significant factors for determining the long-term results of MIT. [source] Nursing Home Facility Risk Factors for Infection and Hospitalization: Importance of Registered Nurse Turnover, Administration, and Social FactorsJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 12 2002Sheryl Zimmerman PhD OBJECTIVES: Determine the relationship between a broad array of structure and process elements of nursing home care and (a) resident infection and (b) hospitalization for infection. DESIGN: Baseline data were collected from September 1992 through March 1995, and residents were followed for 2 years; facility data were collected at the midpoint of follow-up. SETTING: A stratified random sample of 59 nursing homes across Maryland. PARTICIPANTS: Two thousand fifteen new admissions aged 65 and older. MEASUREMENTS: Facility-level data were collected from interviews with facility administrators, directors of nursing, and activity directors; record abstraction; and direct observation. Main outcome measures included infection (written diagnosis, a course of antibiotic therapy, or radiographic confirmation of pneumonia) and hospitalization for infection (indicated on medical records). RESULTS: The 2-year rate of infection was 1.20 episodes per 100 resident days, and the hospitalization rate for infection was 0.17 admissions per 100 resident days. Except for registered nurse (RN) turnover, which related to both infection and hospitalization, different variables related to each outcome. High rates of incident infection were associated with more Medicare recipients, high levels of physical/occupational therapist staffing, high licensed practical nurse staffing, low nurses' aide staffing, high intensity of medical and therapeutic services, dementia training, staff privacy, and low levels of psychotropic medication use. High rates of hospitalization for infection were associated with for-profit ownership, chain affiliation, poor environmental quality, lack of resident privacy, lack of administrative emphasis on staff satisfaction, and low family/friend visitation rates. Adjustment for resident sex, age, race, education, marital status, number of morbid diagnoses, functional status, and Resource Utilization Group, Version III score did not alter the relationship between the structure and process of care and outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The association between RN turnover and both outcomes underscores the relationship between nursing leadership and quality of care in these settings. The relationship between hospitalization for infection and for-profit ownership and chain affiliation could reflect policies not to treat acute illnesses in house. The link between social factors of care (environmental quality, prioritizing staff satisfaction, resident privacy, and facility visitation) and hospitalization indicates that a nonmedical model of care may not jeopardize, and may in fact benefit, health-related outcomes. All of these facility characteristics may be modifiable, may affect healthcare costs, and may hold promise for other, less-medical, forms of residential long-term care. [source] Untersuchungen zur prophylaktischen Wirkung der Verfütterung eines Probiotikums und von erregerspezifischen Kolostrum- und Dotterantikörpern bei neugeborenen KälbernJOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 3-4 2000M. H. Von Erhard Studies on the prophylactic effect of feeding probiotics, pathogen-specific colostrum antibodies or egg yolk antibodies in newborn calves The prophylactic efficacy of feeding probiotics, specific egg yolk antibodies and specific colostrum antibodies on neonatal diarrhoea was investigated in a field trial with calves, grouped (n = 39/40 per group) according to the following treatments: Group I: feeding no additive; Group II: feeding probiotics (5 g powder/day with Bacillus cereus var. toyoi); Group III: feeding egg powder (10 g/day with specific egg yolk antibodies against rotavirus, coronavirus and Escherichia coli F5); Group IV: feeding colostrum antibodies (10 ml/day containing 1 g bovine immunoglobulins with specific antibodies against rotavirus, coronavirus and E. coli antigens); Group V: feeding egg powder together with probiotics (according to group II and III). The additives were given twice daily with the meal from day 2 to day 14 post-natum. The presence of infectious agents was proved in fecal samples of all calves. Intestinal infections with rotavirus (30.8% of the calves) predominated compared to those with coronavirus (7.1%), E. coli F5 (1.5%) and cryptosporidia (24.2%). In contrast to earlier studies, the manifestation of diarrhoea did not differ significantly between the five groups. Only the growth rate of the calves between day 2 and day 14 of life as a measure of their welfare showed treatmentFspecific differences. The control group (I) showed the lowest body weight gain of about 5.8 kg (SD 5.0), whereas in the treated groups it averaged 6.3 kg (SD 4.1, p = 0,60; group II), 6.8 kg (SD 4.3, p = 0.36; group III), 6.9 kg (SD 4.7, p = 0.61; group IV) and 7.7 kg (SD 4.9, p = 0.08; group V). Considering only the rotavirus-positive calves the body weight gain of the control group (I) was 3.5 kg (SD 4.8) and of the treated groups was 3.8 kg (SD 3.3, p = 0.65; II), 5.0 kg (SD 3.5, p = 0.54; III), 6.6 kg (SD 4.5, p = 0.05; IV) and 6.1 kg (SD 5.0, p = 0.13; V). Obviously, the feeding of antibodies from colostrum or from egg powder does increase the mean body weight gain. The feeding of probiotics alone has nearly no effect. However, in the combination with specific egg antibodies probiotics seem to have a synergistic effect. In serum from the 198 newborn calves the IgG concentration averaged 4.9 mg/ml serum (SD 3.3). From 93 dams of these calves a sample of the first colostrum could be obtained showing a mean IgG concentration of 22.0 mg/ml (SD 11.0). IgG levels in the colostrum and in the serum have been positively correlated (r = 0.37, p < 0.05). Calves with a high intensity of diarrhoea had a significantly (p = 0.01) lower mean IgG serum level (3.7 mg/ml; n = 36; SD 2.5) than calves without diarrhoea (5.6 mg/ml; n = 75; SD 4.0). In Rahmen eines Feldversuches wurde die prophylaktische Wirksamkeit verschiedener Futteradditiva (Probiotikum, spezifische Dotterantikörper, spezifische Kolostrumantikörper) bei der neonatalen Kälberdiarrhoe untersucht. Dazu wurden die Kälber entsprechend der Behandlung in folgende fünf Gruppen (je n = 39/40) eingeteilt: I: Keine Futterzusatzstoffe, II: Verfütterung eines Probiotikums (5 g Pulver/Tag mit Bacillus cereus var. toyoi), III: Verfütterung von Eipulver (10 g/Tag mit spezifischen Dotterantikörpern gegen Rotaviren, Coronaviren und E. coli F5), IV: Verfütterung von Kolostrumantikörpern (10 ml/Tag mit 1 g bovinen Immunglobulin mit spezifischen Antikörpern gegen Rotaviren, Coronaviren und Escherichia coli Antigene), V: Verfütterung von Eipulver zusammen mit einem Probiotikum (analog den Gruppen II und III). Die Prophylaktika wurden zwei Mal täglich vom 2. bis zum 14. Lebenstag mit der Tränke verabreicht. Bei allen Kälbern wurde ein Erregernachweis im Kot geführt. Rotaviren (30,8%) konnten im Vergleich zu Coronaviren (7,1%), E. coli F5 (1,5%) und Kryptosporidien (24,2%) häufiger nachgewiesen werden. Im Gegensatz zu früheren Studien konnten hinsichtlich des Durchfallgeschehens keine signifikanten Unterschiede zwischen den Gruppen festgestellt werden. Nur die Körperge wichtszunahme der Kälber zwischen 2. und 14. Lebenstag zeigte behandlungsspezifische Unterschiede. Die Kontrollgruppe (I) verbuchte mit 5,8 kg (SD 5,0) die niedrigste Körpergewichtszunahme. Verglichen damit lag die Zunahme der behandelten Gruppen bei 6,3 (SD 4,1; p = 0,60; Gruppe II), 6,8 kg (SD 4,3; p = 0,36; Gruppe III), 6,9 kg (SD 4,7, p = 0,61; Gruppe IV) und bei 7,7 kg (SD 4,9, p = 0,08; Gruppe V). Bei Rotavirus-positiven Kälbern war eine Körpergewichtszunahme von 3,5 kg (SD 4,8; Kontrollgruppe), 3,8 kg (SD 3,3, p = 0,65; Gruppe II), 5,0 kg (SD 3,5, p = 0,54; Gruppe III), 6,6 kg (SD 4,5, p = 0,05; Gruppe IV) und von 6,1 kg (SD 5.0, p = 0,13; Gruppe V) zu verzeichnen. Offensichtlich verhindert die prophylaktische Verfütterung von Kolostrum- oder Dotterantikörpern eine infektionsbedingte Verminderung der Körpergewichtszunahme. Die Applikation des Probiotikums alleine zeigte keinen vergleichbaren Effekt. Allerdings ist eine synergistische Wirkung in Kombination mit Antikörpern nicht auszuschließen. In den Seren der 198 neugeborenen Kälber wurde eine mittlere Immunglobulin G (IgG)-Konzentration von 4,9 mg/ml (SD 3,3) gemessen. Von 93 Muttertieren dieser Kälber konnte das Erstgemelk genommen werden, das eine mittlere IgG-Konzentration von 22,0 mg/ml (SD 11,0) aufwies. Die IgG-Gehalte in den Kolostrumproben und den Kälberseren zeigten eine Korrelation von r = 0,37 (p < 0,05). Kälber mit hochgradigem Durchfall hatten mit 3,7 mg/ml Serum (n = 36, SD 2,5) einen signifikant niedrigeren mittleren IgG-Wert als Kälber ohne Durchfall (5,6 mg/ml, n = 75, SD 4,0). [source] Anguillicoloides crassus infection of European eel, Anguilla anguilla (L.), in inland waters of Estonia: history of introduction, prevalence and intensityJOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 2010A. Kangur Summary Eel fishery in Estonian inland waters depends entirely on the stocking of glass eels or pre-grown (farmed) eels. Via importation of live eels of 20,30 cm length the non-indigenous swimbladder nematode Anguillicoloides crassus was probably introduced via Germany into Lake Võrtsjärv in 1988, and has since spread to many inland waters of Estonia. In 1992, the parasite was found in eel caught from Lake Võrtsjärv. Between 1992 and 2002 and additionally in 2008, we examined in total 870 eels from Lake Võrtsjärv (270 km2) and in 2008, 63 eels from three small lakes for adult A. crassus. The aim of the study was to obtain information on the variation of A. crassus infection in eels in Estonian lakes, to determine the temporal dynamics of prevalence and intensity of infection, and to establish a relationship between the length of host and intensity of infection in the eels in Lake Võrtsjärv. There appeared to be a pronounced variation in prevalences of infected eels (from 3.7% to 100%) between the four investigated lakes. However, in Lake Võrtsjärv, the prevalence of adult A. crassus infection remained stable (mean about 65%) for many years. The average number of nematode per infected eel (mean intensity) ranged from 12.6 ± 2.5 in 1993 to 4.0 ± 0.6 in 1999 in Lake Võrtsjärv, while it was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) in the period 1992,1998 compared to 1999,2002 and 2008. The mean number of parasites per swimbladder was not related to eel length and no statistical difference was found in the condition factor of infected and non-infected eels. Although under normal environmental conditions A. crassus has not caused serious disease problems to eels in the study area, high intensity of parasite infection may contribute to eel kills due to oxygen deficiency in winter under the ice in Lake Võrtsjärv. [source] Daily energy expenditure of singing great reed warblers Acrocephalus arundinaceusJOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2008Dennis Hasselquist According to honest signalling theory, signals must be costly to produce to retain information about the signaller's quality. The song produced by male birds during breeding is a vocal "ornament" used for intra- and inter-sexual purposes. The energetic cost of this vocal signal remains a contentious issue. We used the doubly labelled water method to measure field metabolic rate by estimating CO2 production and then convert this to daily energy expenditure (DEE) in great reed warbler males singing under natural conditions (10 at low to moderate intensity and 7 at very high intensity from dawn to dusk). There was a significant positive relationship between singing intensity and DEE. From this relationship we extrapolated the average DEE for intensely singing males (i.e., males producing song sounds 50% of the time and hence sitting at their elevated song post in the top of a reed stem more or less continuously throughout the ,20 h of daylight) to 3.3×BMR (basal metabolic rate) and for non-singing males to 2.2×BMR. The mean DEE measured for the seven males singing with very high intensity was 3.1×BMR. The maximum measured DEE for a single male was 3.9×BMR, i.e. close to the maximum sustainable DEE (4×BMR), and the minimum DEE was 2.1×BMR for a male singing at very low intensity. These results imply that producing intensive advertising song in birds may incur a substantial cost in terms of increased energy expenditure. [source] Enhanced cartilage tissue engineering by sequential exposure of chondrocytes to FGF-2 during 2D expansion and BMP-2 during 3D cultivationJOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2001Ivan Martin Abstract Bovine calf articular chondrocytes, either primary or expanded in monolayers (2D) with or without 5 ng/ml fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), were cultured on three-dimensional (3D) biodegradable polyglycolic acid (PGA) scaffolds with or without 10 ng/ml bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2). Chondrocytes expanded without FGF-2 exhibited high intensity immunostaining for smooth muscle ,-actin (SMA) and collagen type I and induced shrinkage of the PGA scaffold, thus resembling contractile fibroblasts. Chondrocytes expanded in the presence of FGF-2 and cultured 6 weeks on PGA scaffolds yielded engineered cartilage with 3.7-fold higher cell number, 4.2-fold higher wet weight, and 2.8-fold higher wet weight glycosaminoglycan (GAG) fraction than chondrocytes expanded without FGF-2. Chondrocytes expanded with FGF-2 and cultured on PGA scaffolds in the presence of BMP-2 for 6 weeks yielded engineered cartilage with similar cellularity and size, 1.5-fold higher wet weight GAG fraction, and more homogenous GAG distribution than the corresponding engineered cartilage cultured without BMP-2. The presence of BMP-2 during 3D culture had no apparent effect on primary chondrocytes or those expanded without FGF-2. In summary, the presence of FGF-2 during 2D expansion reduced chondrocyte expression of fibroblastic molecules and induced responsiveness to BMP-2 during 3D cultivation on PGA scaffolds. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Effects of ultrasound on culture of Aspergillus terreusJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 5 2008Nuria Sainz Herrán Abstract BACKGROUND: Fermentations of Aspergillus terreus are commercially used to produce lovastatin. How ultrasound might influence this fermentation is unknown. While high-intensity ultrasound is effective in disrupting microbial cells, ultrasound of low intensity is known to improve productivity of some fermentation processes without damaging cells. Mechanisms behind productivity improvements have not been clearly identified in earlier studies. This work reports on the effects of ultrasound on A. terreus fermentation for low (957 W m,3), medium (2870 W m,3) and high (4783 W m,3) values of sonication power input in a slurry bubble column sonobioreactor. RESULTS: Sonication at any power level did not affect biomass growth profiles in comparison with negative controls. In contrast, medium- and high-intensity sonication greatly reduced production of lovastatin and substantially altered the growth morphology. At medium and high intensity, ultrasound disrupted fungal pellets and caused the biomass to grow mainly as dispersed hyphae. Sonication affected broth rheology because rheology depends on the morphology of the suspended biomass. CONCLUSION: Sonication can be used to modify growth morphology and broth rheology without affecting growth of filamentous fungi. Sonication appears to influence the primary growth metabolism and secondary metabolism differently in different situations. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Cultural Preferences in Hotel Guestroom Lighting DesignJOURNAL OF INTERIOR DESIGN, Issue 1 2010Nam-Kyu Park Ph.D. This study examined North American and South Korean preferences for different lighting conditions in a hotel guestroom. A sample of 87 North Americans and 88 Koreans (N = 175) rated their preference for different intensities and color temperatures of light within a digitally generated hotel guestroom design. A mixed between-within analysis of variance (Kuehl, 1999) evaluated three dependent variables (preference, arousal, and pleasure) against three independent variables (two culture groups × two light colors × two light intensities). Findings indicated that North American subjects preferred the hotel guestroom with low intensity and warm color lighting the most, whereas the Korean group preferred high intensity and warm color lighting the most. North American participants also perceived dim lighting as more arousing than bright lighting, whereas Korean participants perceived bright lighting as more arousing than dim lighting. Overall, the findings suggest that design criteria for hotel guestroom lighting should be revised to account for distinct cultural differences. [source] Design and development of a prototype endocavitary probe for high-intensity focused ultrasound delivery with integrated magnetic resonance imagingJOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING, Issue 3 2007Iain P. Wharton MRCS Abstract Purpose To integrate a high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) transducer with an MR receiver coil for endocavitary MR-guided thermal ablation of localized pelvic lesions. Materials and Methods A hollow semicylindrical probe (diameter 3.2 cm) with a rectangular upper surface (7.2 cm × 3.2 cm) was designed to house a HIFU transducer and enable acoustic contact with an intraluminal wall. The probe was distally rounded to ease endocavitary insertion and was proximally tapered to a 1.5-cm diameter cylindrical handle through which the irrigation tubes (for transducer cooling) and electrical connections were passed. MR compatibility of piezoceramic and piezocomposite transducers was assessed using gradient-echo (GRE) sequences. The radiofrequency (RF) tuning of identical 6.5 cm × 2.5 cm rectangular receiver coils on the upper surface of the probe was adjusted to compensate for the presence of the conductive components of the HIFU transducers. A T1-weighted (T1-W) sliding window dual-echo GRE sequence monitored phase changes in the focal zone of each transducer. High-intensity (2400 W/cm,2), short duration (<1.5 seconds) exposures produced subtherapeutic temperature rises. Results For T1-W images, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) improved by 40% as a result of quartering the conductive surface of the piezoceramic transducer. A piezocomposite transducer showed a further 28% improvement. SNRs for an endocavitary coil in the focal plane of the HIFU trans-ducer (4 cm from its face) were three times greater than from a phased body array coil. Local shimming improved uniformity of phase images. Phase changes were detected at subtherapeutic exposures. Conclusion We combined a HIFU transducer with an MR receiver coil in an endocavitary probe. SNRs were improved by quartering the conductive surface of the piezoceramic. Further improvement was achieved with a piezocomposite transducer. A phase change was seen on MR images during both subtherapeutic and therapeutic HIFU exposures. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||