CHEMINFORM, Issue 17 2007
Xiang-Shan Wang
Abstract ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract, please click on HTML or PDF. [source]

ChemInform Abstract: RPR203494 a Pyrimidine Analogue of the p38 Inhibitor RPR200765A with an Improved in vitro Potency.

CHEMINFORM, Issue 22 2001
Alan J. Collis
Abstract ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a "Full Text" option. The original article is trackable via the "References" option. [source]

Severe adenovirus bronchiolitis in children

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 11 2000
MN Pichler
ABSTRACT. Severe adenoviral infections such as the necrotizing adenovirus bronchiolitis occur sporadically in infants. Ascertaining the etiologic role of adenovirus in cases of lung disease can pose a diagnostic problem. We present two cases of severe bronchiolitis in previously healthy children in which adenovirus could be shown to be the causing agent. Both children received immunosuppressive therapy with steroids and Cyclosporin for 3 mo and a course of intravenous Ribavirin for 10 d. The results were conflicting: despite therapy Patient 1 died due to respiratory failure, Patient 2 improved notably. Conclusions: Adenovirus can cause severe bronchiolitis in previously healthy children. Diagnosis may be difficult to achieve. The role of antiviral therapy in the treatment of adenoviral infections remains to be cleared. ,Adenovirus, bronchiolitis [source]

Diagnosing PNH with FLAER and multiparameter flow cytometry

CYTOMETRY, Issue 3 2007
D. Robert Sutherland
Abstract Background: PNH is an acquired hematopoietic stem cell disorder leading to a partial or absolute deficiency of all glycophosphatidyl-inositol (GPI)-linked proteins. The classical approach to diagnosis of PNH by cytometry involves the loss of at least two GPI-linked antigens on RBCs and neutrophils. While flow assays are more sensitive and specific than complement-mediated lysis or the Hams test, they suffer from several drawbacks. Bacterial aerolysin binds to the GPI moiety of cell surface GPI-linked molecules and causes lysis of normal but not GPI-deficient PNH cells. FLAER is an Alexa488-labeled inactive variant of aerolysin that does not cause lysis of cells. Our goals were to develop a FLAER-based assay to diagnose and monitor patients with PNH and to improve detection of minor populations of PNH clones in other hematologic disorders. Methods: In a single tube assay, we combined FLAER with CD45, CD33, and CD14 allowing the simultaneous analysis of FLAER and the GPI-linked CD14 structure on neutrophil and monocyte lineages. Results: Comparison to standard CD55 and CD59 analysis showed excellent agreement. Because of the higher signal to noise ratio, the method shows increased sensitivity in our hands over single (CD55 or CD59) parameter analysis. Using this assay, we were able to detect as few as 1% PNH monocytes and neutrophils in aplastic anemia, that were otherwise undetectable using CD55 and CD59 on RBC's. We also observed abnormal FLAER staining of blast populations in acute leukemia. In these cases, the neutrophils stained normally with FLAER, while the gated CD33bright cells failed to express normal levels of CD14 and additionally showed aberrant CD45 staining and bound lower levels of FLAER. Conclusion: FLAER combined with multiparameter flow cytometry offers an improved assay for diagnosis and monitoring of PNH clones and may have utility in detection of unsuspected myeloproliferative disorders. © 2007 Clinical Cytometry Society [source]

Efficacy and safety of duloxetine in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: a flexible-dose, progressive-titration, placebo-controlled trial

DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, Issue 3 2008
Moira Rynn M.D.
Abstract Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), a prevalent and chronic illness, is associated with dysregulation in both serotonergic and noradrenergic neurotransmission. Our study examined the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of duloxetine hydrochloride, a dual reuptake inhibitor of serotonin and norepinephrine, for short-term treatment of adults with GAD. In a 10-week, double-blind, progressive-titration, flexible-dose trial, 327 adult outpatients with a DSM-IV,defined GAD diagnosis were randomized to duloxetine 60,120,mg (DLX, N=168) or placebo (PLA, N=159) treatment. The primary efficacy measure was mean change from baseline to endpoint in Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) total score. Secondary outcome measures included response rate (HAMA total score reduction ,50% from baseline), Clinician Global Impression,Improvement (CGI-I) scores, and Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) scores. Patients who received duloxetine treatment demonstrated significantly greater improvement in HAMA total scores (P=.02); a higher response rate (P=.03), and greater improvement (P=.04) than patients who received placebo. Duloxetine-treated patients were also significantly more improved than placebo-treated patients on SDS global functional (P<.01) and work, social, and family/home impairment scores (P<.05). The rate of discontinuation due to adverse events (AEs) was higher for the duloxetine group compared with the placebo group (P=.002). The AEs most frequently associated with duloxetine were nausea, dizziness, and somnolence. Duloxetine was an efficacious, safe, and well-tolerated treatment that resulted in clinically significant improvements in symptom severity and functioning for patients with GAD. Depression and Anxiety 0:1,8, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

A controlled trial of paroxetine for chronic PTSD, dissociation, and interpersonal problems in mostly minority adults,

DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, Issue 2 2007
Randall D. Marshall M.D.
Abstract This study evaluated the efficacy of paroxetine for symptoms and associated features of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), interpersonal problems, and dissociative symptoms in an urban population of mostly minority adults. Adult outpatients with a primary DSM-IV diagnosis of chronic PTSD received 1 week of single-blind placebo (N = 70). Those not rated as significantly improved were then randomly assigned to placebo (N = 27) or paroxetine (N = 25) for 10 weeks, with a flexible dosage design (maximum 60,mg by week 7). Significantly more patients treated with paroxetine were rated as responders (14/21, 66.7%) on the Clinical Global Impression,Improvement Scale (CGI-I) compared to patients treated with placebo (6/22, 27.3%). Mixed effects models showed greater reductions on the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) total score (primary plus associated features of PTSD) in the paroxetine versus placebo groups. Paroxetine was also superior to placebo on reduction of dissociative symptoms [Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) score] and reduction in self-reported interpersonal problems [Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP) score]. In a 12-week maintenance phase, paroxetine response continued to improve, but placebo response did not. Paroxetine was well tolerated and superior to placebo in ameliorating the symptoms of chronic PTSD, associated features of PTSD, dissociative symptoms, and interpersonal problems in the first trial conducted primarily in minority adults. Depression and Anxiety 24:77,84, 2007. Published 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Multiple genetic tests for susceptibility to smoking do not outperform simple family history

ADDICTION, Issue 1 2009
Coral E. Gartner
ABSTRACT Aims To evaluate the utility of using predictive genetic screening of the population for susceptibility to smoking. Methods The results of meta-analyses of genetic association studies of smoking behaviour were used to create simulated data sets using Monte Carlo methods. The ability of the genetic tests to screen for smoking was assessed using receiver operator characteristic curve analysis. The result was compared to prediction using simple family history information. To identify the circumstances in which predictive genetic testing would potentially justify screening we simulated tests using larger numbers of alleles (10, 15 and 20) that varied in prevalence from 10 to 50% and in strength of association [relative risks (RRs) of 1.2,2.1]. Results A test based on the RRs and prevalence of five susceptibility alleles derived from meta-analyses of genetic association studies of smoking performed similarly to chance and no better than the prediction based on simple family history. Increasing the number of alleles from five to 20 improved the predictive ability of genetic screening only modestly when using genes with the effect sizes reported to date. Conclusions This panel of genetic tests would be unsuitable for population screening. This situation is unlikely to be improved upon by screening based on more genetic tests. Given the similarity with associations found for other polygenic conditions, our results also suggest that using multiple genes to screen the general population for genetic susceptibility to polygenic disorders will be of limited utility. [source]

Generalized-onset seizures with secondary focal evolution

EPILEPSIA, Issue 7 2009
Randy Williamson
Summary The international seizure classification recognizes that partial-onset seizures can become secondarily generalized, but generalized-onset seizures are expected to remain generalized. We report six patients who had recorded seizures with generalized onset, but subsequent evolution into a focal discharge. The clinical seizure onset was generalized absence or myoclonic, and the most common subsequent clinical pattern was prolonged behavioral arrest with mild automatisms, and then postictal confusion. The ictal discharge started with generalized spike-and-wave activity and then acquired a focal predominance. Interictal epileptiform activity was generalized. There were no focal magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities. Four patients were misdiagnosed with complex partial seizures. All patients were initially refractory, but three became seizure-free and three improved after treatment with antiepileptic medications appropriate for absence or myoclonic seizures. Generalized-onset seizures that acquire focal features are easily misdiagnosed as complex partial. These seizures have a more favorable response to medications effective against generalized absence and myoclonic seizures. [source]

MRI verified STN stimulation site , gait improvement and clinical outcome

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 5 2010
E. L. Johnsen
Background:, Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is effective in alleviating Parkinson's disease (PD) symptoms (tremor, rigidity and bradykinesia) and may improve gait and postural impairment associated with the disease. However, improvement of gait is not always as predictable as the clinical outcome. This may relate to the type of gait impairment or localization of the active DBS contact. Methods:, The active contact was visualized on peri-operative magnetic resonance imaging in 22 patients with idiopathic PD, consecutively treated with bilateral STN DBS. Stimulation site was grouped as either in the dorsal/ventral STN or medial/lateral hereof and anterior/posterior STN or medial/lateral hereof. The localization was compared with relative improvement of clinical outcome (UPDRS-III). In 10 patients, quantitative gait analyses were performed, and the improvement in gait performance was compared with stimulation site in the STN. Results:, Of 44 active contacts, 77% were inside the nucleus, 23% were medial hereof. Stimulation of the dorsal half improved UPDRS-III significantly more than ventral STN DBS (P = 0.02). However, there were no differences between anterior and posterior stimulation in the dorsal STN. Step velocity and length improved significantly more with dorsal stimulation compared with ventral stimulation (P = 0.03 and P = 0.02). Balance during gait was also more improved with dorsal stimulation compared with ventral stimulation. Conclusions:, Deep brain stimulation of the dorsal STN is superior to stimulation of the ventral STN. Possible different effects of stimulation inside the nucleus underline the need for exact knowledge of the active stimulation site position to target the most effective area. [source]

A decline of linkage?

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF POLITICAL RESEARCH, Issue 6 2003
Intra-party participation in Norway
The decline in party membership in Western Europe is generally taken as an indicator of party transformation. This article looks beyond membership figures and asks whether membership decline should be interpreted to mean that the activities and motivation of the remaining members are changing. Hypotheses on changes in party activism and motivation for party membership are tested with data from the 1991 and 2000 Norwegian party member surveys. Rather than uncovering evidence of change, most analyses point to a remarkable level of stability. Active and passive members seem to have disappeared at about the same rate. The general diagnosis of party decline is neither improved nor aggravated, but the analysis casts doubt on propositions about the transformation of the grassroots organisation. The Internet is used by party office-holders and the young, but the grassroots rarely use the new technology for political purposes. The character of the representative and participatory linkages provided by parties has, however, changed as a consequence of a shrinking party membership. [source]

The Selective Heating of Iron Nanoparticles in a Single-Mode Microwave for the Patterned Growths of Carbon Nanofibers and Nanotubes

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 8 2009
Tamara Druzhinina
Abstract The fast and cheap synthesis of carbon nanotubes is addressed in a large number of recent publications. At the same time, microwave-assisted synthesis has also gained interest. Besides the fact that reaction kinetics can be positively influenced by the use of microwave irradiation and advanced reaction conditions can be applied, absorption of microwave radiation depends on the material properties, thus resulting in a selective heating mechanism. The selective heating process allows for locally created temperatures high enough to promote the growth of carbon nanofibers and nanotubes on patterned iron catalyst layers. The resulting fibers are micrometers long, and can be synthesized in short time scales of a few minutes, yielding dense films of carbon fibers with uniform height. Here, the selective heating of surface bound iron nanoparticles is investigated in more detail, and experimental evidence for this effect is provided by utilizing a self-assembled monolayer of n -octadecyltrichlorosilane, which acts as a sensitive indicator for locally elevated temperatures. Special emphasis is placed on the development of an improved and controllable experimental setup that permits the safe and fast fabrication of the desired carbon objects. [source]

Siloxane Copolymers for Nanoimprint Lithography,

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 1 2007
P. Choi
Abstract Presented here is the novel use of thermoplastic siloxane copolymers as nanoimprint lithography (NIL) resists for 60,nm features. Two of the most critical steps of NIL are mold release and pattern transfer through dry etching. These require that the NIL resist have low surface energy and excellent dry-etching resistance. Homopolymers traditionally used in NIL, such as polystyrene (PS) or poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), generally cannot satisfy all these requirements as they exhibit polymer fracture and delamination during mold release and have poor etch resistance. A number of siloxane copolymers have been investigated for use as NIL resists, including poly(dimethylsiloxane)- block -polystyrene (PDMS- b -PS), poly(dimethylsiloxane)- graft -poly(methyl acrylate)- co -poly(isobornyl acrylate) (PDMS- g -PMA- co -PIA), and PDMS- g -PMMA. The presence of PDMS imparts the materials with many properties that are favorable for NIL, including low surface energy for easy mold release and high silicon content for chemical-etch resistance,in particular, extremely low etch rates (comparable to PDMS) in oxygen plasma, to which organic polymers are quite susceptible. These properties give improved NIL results. [source]

Interplay of hepatic and myeloid signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 in facilitating liver regeneration via tempering innate immunity,

HEPATOLOGY, Issue 4 2010
Hua Wang
Liver regeneration triggered by two-thirds partial hepatectomy is accompanied by elevated hepatic levels of endotoxin, which contributes to the regenerative process, but liver inflammation and apoptosis remain paradoxically limited. Here, we show that signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), an important anti-inflammatory signal, is activated in myeloid cells after partial hepatectomy and its conditional deletion results in an enhanced inflammatory response. Surprisingly, this is accompanied by an improved rather than impaired regenerative response with increased hepatic STAT3 activation, which may contribute to the enhanced liver regeneration. Indeed, conditional deletion of STAT3 in both hepatocytes and myeloid cells results in elevated activation of STAT1 and apoptosis of hepatocytes, and a dramatic reduction in survival after partial hepatectomy, whereas additional global deletion of STAT1 protects against these effects. Conclusion: An interplay of myeloid and hepatic STAT3 signaling is essential to prevent liver failure during liver regeneration through tempering a strong innate inflammatory response mediated by STAT1 signaling. (HEPATOLOGY 2010.) [source]

BRCA2 gene mutations in Greek patients with familial breast cancer ,,

HUMAN MUTATION, Issue 1 2002
Athanasios Armakolas
Abstract Family history is a well-recognized risk factor for the development of breast cancer. The isolation of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, the two major predisposing genes in familial and to early onset breast and ovarian cancer, has resulted to the identification of a large number of families with mutations in these two genes. Despite the large number of distinct mutations detected in both genes, several mutations have been found to recur in unrelated families of diverse geographical origin. We have analyzed 27 Greek patients with familial breast cancer the majority of those having one first and one second degree relatives affected and 28 patients with sporadic breast cancer for BRCA2 germline mutations. The techniques used were single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis (SSCP) followed by sequencing. Furthermore, the clinical presentation and prognosis of BRCA2 associated breast cancer cases was compared to 20 adequately matched for age and date of diagnosis (within one year) sporadic breast cancer patients. We identified three novel BRCA2 mutations (3058delA, 6024delTA, and 4147delG) in the ovarian cancer cluster region (OCCR) and one already known (2024del5) germline BRCA2 gene mutation in five different breast cancer families. The 4147delG mutation was detected in two unrelated patients. BRCA2 germline mutations were correlated with early-onset breast cancer RR=4.77 (95% CI: 0.666-34.463). Although patients with BRCA2 germline mutations did not have a distinct histological phenotype they had an improved overall survival (100% vs 65%). Our findings suggest that there is a cluster of novel mutations in exons 10 and 11 in Greek patients with familial breast cancer. These mutations appear to have a milder clinical phenotype when compared to the rest of the study group. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Improved genetic algorithm for design optimization of truss structures with sizing, shape and topology variables

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN ENGINEERING, Issue 13 2005
Wenyan Tang
Abstract This paper presents an improved genetic algorithm (GA) to minimize weight of truss with sizing, shape and topology variables. Because of the nature of discrete and continuous variables, mixed coding schemes are proposed, including binary and float coding, integer and float coding. Surrogate function is applied to unify the constraints into single one; moreover surrogate reproduction is developed to select good individuals to mating pool on the basis of constraint and fitness values, which completely considers the character of constrained optimization. This paper proposes a new strategy of creating next population by competing between parent and offspring population based on constraint and fitness values; so that lifetime of excellent gene is prolonged. Because the initial population is created randomly and three operators of GA are also indeterminable, it is necessary to check whether the structural topology is desirable. An improved restart operator is proposed to introduce new gene and explore new space, so that the reliability of GA is enhanced. Selected examples are solved; the improved numerical results demonstrate that the enhanced GA scheme is feasible and effective. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Cholinesterase inhibitors in advanced Dementia with Lewy bodies: increase or stop?

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 8 2006
Sanjeet Pakrasi
Abstract Introduction There is little data on stopping cholinesterase inhibitors in Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Equally, it is not known if increasing the dose of cholinesterase inhibitors may help neuropsychiatric symptoms in advanced DLB. Method We conducted an open label trial with donepezil involving 16 patients with LBD when the dose was reduced and treatment stopped over 4 weeks. Another 7 patients were given a trial of an increased dose of donepezil (15,mg) to resolve re-emergent neuropsychiatric symptoms. Results The slow discontinuation protocol was well tolerated in advanced DLB. Five of the seven patients given a trial of a higher dose of donepezil were rated as clinically improved after 12 weeks treatment. Conclusion Cholinesterase inhibitors can be discontinued slowly in advanced DLB. Increasing the dose of donepezil may be of benefit to some patients with DLB who experience a recurrence in their neuropsychiatric symptoms. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Holographic digital Fourier microscopy for selective imaging of biological tissue

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF IMAGING SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 6 2004
Sergey A. Alexandrov
Abstract We present an application of digital Fourier holography for selective imaging of scatterers with different sizes in turbid media such as biological tissues. A combination of Fourier holography and high-resolution digital recording, digital Fourier microscopy (DFM) permits crucial flexibility in applying filtering to highlight scatterers of interest in the tissue. The high-resolution digital hologram is a result of the collation of Fourier holographic frames to form a large-size composite hologram. It is expected that DFM has an improved signal-to-noise ratio as compared to conventional direct digital imaging, e.g., phase microscopy, as applied to imaging of small-size objects. The demonstration of the Fourier filtering capacity of DFM using a biological phantom represents the main focus of this article. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 14, 253,258, 2004; Published online inWiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ima.20031 [source]

GSE: A flexible, yet efficient, encapsulation for IP over DVB-S2 continuous generic streams

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS AND NETWORKING, Issue 3 2008
Juan Cantillo
Abstract The second-generation specification for Digital Video Broadcast over Satellite, DVB-S2, defines an improved and adaptive physical layer. A new framing structure at the link layer, known as the generic stream (GS), is introduced offering an alternative to the well-known MPEG transport stream (TS). This paper presents the requirements for and the design of an encapsulation protocol to transport IPv4 and IPv6 datagrams and other network protocol packets directly over DVB-S2 using this GS profile. The resulting generic stream encapsulation (GSE) is a novel method that provides flexible encapsulation with support for fragmentation. A flexible extension header format allows GSE to carry additional header information, suitable for enhanced features, such as link layer encryption and IP header compression. The paper assesses GSE performance by simulation using realistic traffic profiles and attenuation fading. This demonstrates considerable improvement in efficiency compared with the MPE/MPEG-2 TS, especially when used with adaptive coding and modulation (ACM). Although designed for DVB-S2 systems, the new encapsulation is suitable for other second-generation physical layer standards. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Imidazolium-2-Carboxylate as an Efficient, Expeditious and Eco-Friendly Organocatalyst for Glycerol Carbonate Synthesis

ADVANCED SYNTHESIS & CATALYSIS (PREVIOUSLY: JOURNAL FUER PRAKTISCHE CHEMIE), Issue 11-12 2009
Prashant
Abstract An improved and greener approach towards the synthesis of glycerol carbonate, via transesterification, using 1- n -butyl-3-methylimidazolium-2-carboxylate as catalyst is described. The catalyst loading as low as 1% was sufficient to yield quantitative conversions. A plausible mechanism is proposed for the catalytic cycle leading to product formation. [source]

Non,Market Interventions in Water,Sharing:Case Studies from West Bengal, India

JOURNAL OF AGRARIAN CHANGE, Issue 4 2002
Vikas Rawal
This paper deals with two issues that are important areas of concern in the recent literature on water management in less,developed countries: forms of ownership of groundwater resources and alternatives to anarchy in the exploitation and use of groundwater. The emergence of a market for irrigation water has been argued to have the potential to provide irrigation water to large numbers of small cultivators in developing countries. The development of free markets for water, however, has also been shown to be associated with the emergence of ,water,lords' and with contracts for the purchase and sale of water that are biased against the poor. By contrast, this paper presents two examples of viable non,market interventions in water,sharing , regulation of water markets by village councils and cooperative tubewell groups , from villages in West Bengal, India. These interventions both improved the efficiency of water,use and represented relatively equitable arrangements for water,sharing. [source]

Classification of protein crystallization images using Fourier descriptors

JOURNAL OF APPLIED CRYSTALLOGRAPHY, Issue 3 2007
James Foadi
The two-dimensional Fourier transform (2D-FT) is well suited to the extraction of features to differentiate image texture, and the classification of images based on information acquired from the frequency domain provides a complementary method to approaches based within the spatial domain. The intensity, I, of the Fourier-transformed images can be modelled by an equation of power law form, I = Ar,, where A and , are constants and r is the radial spatial frequency. The power law is fitted over annuli, centred at zero spatial frequency, and the parameters, A and ,, determined for each spatial frequency range. The variation of the fitted parameters across wedges of fixed polar angle provides a measure of directionality and the deviation from the fitted model can be exploited for classification. The classification results are combined with an existing method to classify individual objects within the crystallization drop to obtain an improved overall classification rate. [source]

Disinfection of recycled red-meat-processing wastewater by ozone

JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 7 2005
Jiangning Wu
Abstract Ozonation of a real red-meat-processing wastewater was conducted in a semi-batch reactor to explore the possibility of the water reuse. The experimental results revealed that ozone was very effective in disinfection of the red-meat-processing wastewater. After 8 min of ozonation with an applied ozone dose of 23.09 mg min,1 liter,1 of wastewater, 99% of aerobic bacteria, total coliforms and Escherichiacoli were inactivated. Empirical models were developed to predict the microbial inactivation efficacy of ozone from the CT values for the real red-meat-processing wastewater. A correlation was also derived to estimate the CT values from the applied ozone dose and the ozone contact time. The results also revealed that under the ozonation condition for 99% inactivation of aerobic bacteria, total coliforms and E coli, the decrease in the chemical oxygen demand and the 5-day biological oxygen demand of the wastewater were 10.7% and 23.6%, respectively. However, ozonation under this condition neither improved the light transmission nor reduced the total suspended solids (TSS) despite of the decolorization of the wastewater after ozonation. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry [source]

Improved organotypic cell culture model for analysis of the neuronal circuit involved in the monosynaptic stretch reflex

JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH, Issue 2 2006
Björn Dagberg
Abstract Knowledge regarding neuronal circuit formation is central for the understanding of the vast network making up the brain. It is therefore necessary to find novel ways to analyze the mechanisms involved in well-defined neural circuits. We present an improved in vitro model of the monosynaptic stretch reflex circuit, based on primary organotypic cell cultures. By using limb tissue as a source of muscle fibers instead of circumspinal tissue we could make the in vitro system more in vivo like in the sense that it focuses on the stretch reflex involving limb muscles. Furthermore, our analyses showed that this procedure allows muscle fibers to follow the normal developmental pattern. Particularly interesting was the finding of slow tonic myosin heavy chain expressing muscle fibers, a developmental marker for muscle spindles, in the cultures showing that this system has the potential to contain the complete reflex circuits. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Patient evaluation of treatment with fixed implant- supported partial dentures

JOURNAL OF ORAL REHABILITATION, Issue 11 2001
S.-W. Yi
The aim of this study was to analyse the patient evaluation of functional treatment outcome in 40 periodontally compromised patients who received implant-supported prostheses (ISPs) as part of the total treatment. The treatment protocol comprised periodontal treatment, extraction of teeth with poor prognosis, placement of dental titanium implants, and after healing, insertion of fixed ISPs. Five of the patients became edentulous in one jaw after extraction of all teeth and received a complete ISP, whereas 35 patients became partially edentulous after extraction of some teeth, 12 receiving a partial ISP on , 3 implants, and 23 one on two implants. The follow-up period was on average 1,8 years after the connection of the prostheses, which provided the patients a dentition with a mean of 12 occluding dental units. The first author (S.-W. Yi) performed all implant treatment. Patients' opinions on oral functions , mastication, phonetics, oral hygiene, chewing comfort and aesthetics , were evaluated by means of a questionnaire both before implant installation and at the last follow-up. A control group of 30 subjects with a healthy dentition of 14 occluding natural pairs of teeth answered the same questionnaire on one occasion. A great majority of the patients were extremely satisfied with the oral function after treatment and experienced the ISPs as ,natural teeth'. There was no significant difference between the three treatment groups and the control group for mastication, phonetics, chewing comfort and aesthetics. Patients with ISPs reported a small but significantly greater difficulty with oral hygiene procedures than the controls with natural teeth. Most patients said that they would undergo the treatment again, if necessary, and recommend it to others. It was concluded that the rehabilitation of the periodontally compromised patients, including ISPs on osseointegrated dental titanium implants, resulted in subjectively improved and satisfactory oral function. [source]

GC separation of amino acid enantiomers via derivatization with heptafluorobutyl chloroformate and Chirasil- L -Val column

JOURNAL OF SEPARATION SCIENCE, JSS, Issue 22 2009
Helena Zahradní
Abstract Heptafluorobutyl chloroformate (HFBCF), a recently introduced derivatization reagent, was examined in enantioseparation of amino acids (AAs) by GC. Twenty proteinogenic AAs, plus ornithine, cystine and 4-fluorophenylalanine (internal standard) were treated with the reagent and separation properties of the derivatives were assessed on a Chirasil-Val capillary column. Nineteen AA enantiomers were efficiently separated in 43,min except proline, arginine and cystine. The HFBCF derivatives of the studied DL -AAs show improved separation over other chloroformate-based derivatives hitherto reported. A combination of the improved and faster separation with a simple derivatization protocol, involving an immediate one-step reaction,extraction in two-phase aqueous-organic medium, and low elution temperatures extend application of HFBCF to chiral AA analysis. [source]

Capillary electrophoretic separation and fractionation of hydrophobic peptides onto a pre-structured matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization target for mass spectrometric analysis

JOURNAL OF SEPARATION SCIENCE, JSS, Issue 2 2006
Johan Jacksén
Abstract A CE separation of hydrophobic peptides followed by fractionation onto a prestructured MALDI target and off-line MS analysis was performed. An improved and partially automated manufacturing procedure of the previously described MALDI target is presented. This target is structurally coated with silicone and especially developed for hydrophobic peptides and proteins. Here, the target plate was designed specifically for the CE fraction collection. Different solvents were evaluated to meet the requirements of peptide solubility and compatibility to both the CE and MALDI methods and to the fractionation procedure. CE-MALDI-MS analysis of nine highly hydrophobic peptides from cyanogen bromide-digested bacteriorhodopsin is demonstrated. [source]

Modification of waterproofing asphalt by PVC packaging waste

JOURNAL OF VINYL & ADDITIVE TECHNOLOGY, Issue 4 2009
Changqing Fang
Recycled packaging waste poly(vinyl chloride), instead of an ordinary polymer modifier, was adopted for the modification of an asphalt waterproofing membrane. The physical performance of the membrane was studied. Results showed that the softening point of the modified asphalt was increased, while the penetration degree was reduced. Also, under natural aging conditions, the tension, the retention of extension under the greatest tension, and the retention of low-temperature flexibility were all improved significantly. At the same time, the resistance to acid, alkali, and salt corrosion of the modified waterproofing membrane was improved. The mechanism of the modification was studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and microstructure analysis. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers [source]

Additive interactions in the stabilization of film grade high-density polyethylene.

JOURNAL OF VINYL & ADDITIVE TECHNOLOGY, Issue 2 2002
Part I: Stabilization, influence of zinc stearate during melt processing
The melt stabilization activity of some of the most commercially significant phenolic antioxidants and phosphites (alone and in combination), without and with zinc stearate, was studied in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) produced by Phillips catalyst technology. Multiple pass extrusion experiments were used to degrade the polymer melt progressively. The effect of stabilizers was assessed via melt flow rate (MFR) and yellowness index (YI) measurements conducted as a function of the number of passes. The level of the phenolic antioxidant remaining after each extrusion was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Phenolic antioxidants and phosphites both improved the melt stability of the polymer in terms of elt viscosity retention; the influence of zinc stearate was found to be almost insignificant. However, phosphites and zinc stearate decreased the discoloration caused by the phenolic antioxidants. A correlation was found between the melt stabilization performance of phosphites and their hydroperoxide decomposition efficiency determind via a model hydroperoxide compound. Steric and electronic effects associated with the phosphorus atom influenced the reactivity towards hydroperoxides. Furthermore, high hydrolytic stability did not automatically result in lower efficiency. Besides phosphite molecular structure, stabilization activity was also influenced by the structure of the primary phenolic antioxidant and the presence of zinc stearate. [source]

Synthesis and Characterization of N -Propargyl Cinnamamide Polymers and Copolymers

MACROMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS, Issue 3 2007
Jianping Deng
Abstract This paper deals with synthesis and characterization of a novel poly(N -propargylamide) containing cinnamamide groups (poly(1)) in its side chains. Monomer 1, CHCCH2NHCOCHCH(C6H5), was synthesized and polymerized with a rhodium catalyst, (nbd)Rh+B,(C6H5)4 (nbd,=,2,5-norbornadiene). Effects of some factors on polymerization of monomer 1 such as solvent, temperature, and the ratio of monomer/catalyst were investigated in detail; polymers with moderate number-average molecular weights () and low index of polydispersity () were obtained. To improve the polymers' solubility and to elucidate whether poly(1) could form helical conformation, another N -propargylamide monomer 2, CHCCH2NHCOCH(CH2CH3)2, was employed to accomplish copolymerization with monomer 1. Copolymerization with monomer 2 improved obviously the solubility of the (co)polymers; the copolymers with certain monomer ratios could form helices under the examined conditions according to the related UV-vis spectra. [source]

A 76-residue polypeptide of colicin E9 confers receptor specificity and inhibits the growth of vitamin B12 -dependent Escherichia coli 113/3 cells

MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2000
Christopher N. Penfold
The mechanism by which E colicins recognize and then bind to BtuB receptors in the outer membrane of Escherichia coli cells is a poorly understood first step in the process that results in cell killing. Using N- and C-terminal deletions of the N-terminal 448 residues of colicin E9, we demonstrated that the smallest polypeptide encoded by one of these constructs that retained receptor-binding activity consisted of residues 343,418. The results of the in vivo receptor-binding assay were supported by an alternative competition assay that we developed using a fusion protein consisting of residues 1,497 of colicin E9 fused to the green fluorescent protein as a fluorescent probe of binding to BtuB in E. coli cells. Using this improved assay, we demonstrated competitive inhibition of the binding of the fluorescent fusion protein by the minimal receptor-binding domain of colicin E9 and by vitamin B12. Mutations located in the minimum R domain that abolished or reduced the biological activity of colicin E9 similarly affected the competitive binding of the mutant colicin protein to BtuB. The sequence of the 76-residue R domain in colicin E9 is identical to that found in colicin E3, an RNase type E colicin. Comparative sequence analysis of colicin E3 and cloacin DF13, which is also an RNase-type colicin but uses the IutA receptor to bind to E. coli cells, revealed significant sequence homology throughout the two proteins, with the exception of a region of 92 residues that included the minimum R domain. We constructed two chimeras between cloacin DF13 and colicin E9 in which (i) the DNase domain of colicin E9 was fused onto the T+R domains of cloacin DF13; and (ii) the R domain and DNase domain of colicin E9 were fused onto the T domain of cloacin DF13. The killing activities of these two chimeric colicins against indicator strains expressing BtuB or IutA receptors support the conclusion that the 76 residues of colicin E9 confer receptor specificity. The minimum receptor-binding domain polypeptide inhibited the growth of the vitamin B12 -dependent E. coli 113/3 mutant cells, demonstrating that vitamin B12 and colicin E9 binding is mutually exclusive. [source]