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Monitoring Changes (monitoring + change)
Selected AbstractsPatch-Occupancy Modeling as a Method for Monitoring Changes in Forest Floristics: a Case Study in Southeastern AustraliaCONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2009TRENT D. PENMAN fuego prescrito; manejo adaptativo; modelo Bayesiamo; silvicultura; tala Abstract:,The ability to monitor changes in biodiversity is fundamental to demonstrating sustainable management practices of natural resources. Disturbance studies generally focus on responses at the plot scale, whereas landscape-scale responses are directly relevant to the development of sustainable forest management. Modeling changes in occupancy is one way to monitor landscape-scale responses. We used understory vegetation data collected over 16 years from a long-term study site in southeastern Australia. The site was subject to timber harvesting and frequent prescribed burning. We used occupancy models to examine the impacts of these disturbances on the distribution of 50 species of plants during the study. Timber harvesting influenced the distribution of 9 species, but these effects of harvesting were generally lost within 14 years. Repeated prescribed fire affected 22 species, but the heterogeneity of the burns reduced the predicted negative effects. Twenty-two species decreased over time independent of treatment, and only 5 species increased over time. These changes probably represent a natural response to a wildfire that occurred in 1973, 13 years before the study began. Occupancy modeling is a useful and flexible technique for analyzing monitoring data and it may also be suitable for inclusion within an adaptive-management framework for forest management. Resumen:,La habilidad para monitorear cambios en la biodiversidad es fundamental para demostrar el manejo sustentable de los recursos naturales. Los estudios de perturbación generalmente enfocan las respuestas a escala de parcela, mientras que las respuestas a escala de paisaje son directamente relevantes para el desarrollo del manejo sustentable de bosques. El modelado de cambios en la ocupación es una forma de monitorear respuestas a escala de paisaje. Utilizamos datos de la vegetación de sotobosque colectados a los largo de 16 años en un sitio de estudio a largo plazo en el sureste de Australia. El sitio fue sujeto a la cosecha de madera y a quemas prescritas frecuentes. Utilizamos modelos de ocupación para examinar los impactos de estas perturbaciones sobre la distribución de 50 especies de plantas. La cosecha de madera influyó en la distribución de nueve especies, pero los efectos de la cosecha generalmente se perdieron al cabo de 14 años. El fuego prescrito repetido afectó a 22 especies, pero la heterogeneidad de las quemas redujo los efectos negativos pronosticados. Veintidós especies decrecieron en el tiempo independientemente del tratamiento, y solo cinco especies incrementaron en el tiempo. Estos cambios probablemente representan una respuesta natural al incendio no controlado que ocurrió en 1973, 13 años antes de que comenzara el estudio. El modelado de la ocupación es una técnica útil y flexible para analizar datos de monitoreo y también puede ser adecuado para su inclusión en un marco de manejo adaptativo para la gestión de bosques. [source] Assessing Effectiveness of National Flood Policy Through Spatiotemporal Monitoring of Socioeconomic Exposure,JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 1 2009Lauren A. Patterson Abstract:, After a century of evolving flood policies, there has been a steady increase in flood losses, which has partly been driven by development in flood prone areas. National flood policy was revised in 1994 to focus on limiting and reducing the amount of development inside the 100-year floodplain, with the goal of decreasing flood losses, which can be measured and quantified in terms of population and property value inside the 100-year floodplain. Monitoring changes in these measurable indicators can inform where and how effective national floodplain management strategies have been. National flood policies are restricted to the spatial extent of the 100-year floodplain, thus there are no development regulations to protect against flooding adjacent to this boundary. No consistent monitoring has been undertaken to examine the effect of flood policy on development immediately outside the 100-year floodplain. We developed a standardized methodology, which leveraged national data to quantify changes in population and building tax value (exposure). We applied this approach to counties in North Carolina to assess (1) temporal changes, before and after the 1994 policy and (2) spatial changes, inside and adjacent to the 100-year floodplain. Temporal results indicate the Piedmont and Mountain Region had limited success at reducing exposure within the 100-year floodplain, while the Coastal Plain successfully reduced exposure. Spatially, there was a significant increase in exposure immediately outside the 100-year floodplain throughout North Carolina. The lack of consistent monitoring has resulted in the continuation of this unintended consequence, which could be a significant driver of increased flood losses as any flood even slightly higher than the 100-year floodplain will have a disproportionately large impact since development is outside the legal boundary of national flood policy. [source] Endogenous Fractal Dynamics at Alpine Treeline EcotonesGEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS, Issue 3 2006Yu Zeng Many of the hypotheses proposed to explain ecotones are based on an individualistic paradigm and are essentially static. While they include local feedbacks, they ignore the interactions between pattern and process across scales. These feedbacks in ecotones are nonlinear in nature and complicate the relations of pattern and process in vegetation, which, combined with observed fractal patterns, suggests a complexity science approach to investigate ecotone dynamics. A cellular automaton of alpine treeline, including nonlinear, local, positive, and negative feedbacks in tree establishment and mortality, as reported in field studies, is used as a model system. Fourier analysis of simulated alpine treelines shows fractal patterns across the treeline landscapes, which are created by patch development. The temporal evolution of the spatial pattern is also fractal. Landscape scale linear correlations between spatial pattern and the rate of advance of trees into tundra arise from localized nonlinear interactions. A tree-patch-landscape scale explanation of pattern,process interaction is proposed in which the endogenous feedbacks determine the spatial and temporal fractal properties of the ecotone. The simulated treeline advance exhibits self-organized complexity and may indicate a potential strategy for monitoring change. [source] Are cervical physical outcome measures influenced by the presence of symptomatology?PHYSIOTHERAPY RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2002Michele Sterling Abstract Background and Purpose Outcome measures must be repeatable over time to judge changes as a result of treatment. It is unknown whether the presence of neck pain can affect measurement reliability over a time period when some change could be expected as a result of an intervention. The present study investigated the reliability of two measures, active cervical range of movement (AROM) and pressure pain thresholds (PPTs), in symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects. Method A repeated-measures study design with one week between testing sessions was used. Nineteen healthy asymptomatic subjects and 19 subjects with chronic neck pain participated in the study. The neck movements measured were: flexion, extension, right and left lateral flexion, and axial rotation. PPTs were measured over six bilateral sites, both local and remote to the cervical spine. Results The between-week intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs2,1) for AROM ranged from 0.67 to 0.93 (asymptomatic group) and from 0.64 to 0.88 (chronic neck pain group). Standard error of measurement (SEM) was similar in both groups, from 2.66° to 5.59° (asymptomatic group) and from 2.36° to 6.72° (chronic neck pain group). ICCs2,1 for PPTs ranged from 0.70 to 0.91 (asymptomatic group) and from 0.69 to 0.92 (chronic neck pain group). SEM ranged from 11.14 to 87.71 kPa (asymptomatic group) and from 14.25 to 102.95 kPa (chronic neck pain group). Conclusions The findings of moderate to very high between-week reliability of measures of AROM and PPTs in both asymptomatic and chronic neck pain subjects suggest the presence of symptomatology does not adversely affect reliability of these measures. The results support the use of these measures for monitoring change in chronic neck pain conditions. Copyright © 2002 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] Population structure of rice (Oryza sativa) landraces under farmer managementANNALS OF APPLIED BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2010S. Kumar Greater insight into the dynamics of genetic resources of crop plants is needed in order to pinpoint detrimental evolutionary patterns and draw up conservation priorities. The present study demonstrated farmer management of crop population structure and temporal evolution of rice genetic diversity in traditional production systems. The 16 STMS primers analysed for 11 rice landrace populations indicated enough polymorphism to fully differentiate the inter- and intrapopulation diversity. A total number of 98 alleles were recorded, of which 91 were common and seven were rare. The mean number of alleles per locus was 6.13 and for different groups of rice landrace populations, namely five populations of upland common landrace Jaulia, three populations of irrigated common landrace Thapachini and one population each of three distinct rare landraces were 4.37, 2.75 and 4.37, respectively. The study also compared genebank-conserved (ex situ) populations and on-farm-managed (in situ) landrace populations of same named landraces Jaulia and Thapachini, and revealed greater number of alleles per locus for on-farm-managed populations as compared to the populations under static management. A substantial number of alleles specific to populations under dynamic management could also be recorded. Further, the rare landrace populations included in the present study were more diverse than the common landrace populations. The rare landraces were distinct genetic entities largely representing locally common alleles. Investigating the population genetic structure is therefore helpful in monitoring change in diversity over time and space, and also for devising a rational plan for management of farmer landraces on-farm. [source] Using aerial photography for identification of marine and coastal habitats under the EU's Habitats DirectiveAQUATIC CONSERVATION: MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS, Issue 4 2003Jan Ekebom Abstract 1.Implementation of the E.U. Habitats Directive requires information on the distribution, abundance and area covered by the habitats listed in Annex I of the Directive. 2.In Finland, 21 of these habitats occur in marine and coastal areas. The demand for spatial information of these habitats is increasing, so rapid and relatively inexpensive mapping methods are needed. 3.This study examines the identification of 15 habitats using high altitude black and white aerial photographs. Our goal was to find out how well these habitats could be identified using these types of photographs. We used a test group of 34 persons who were given only brief instructions on how to identify the habitats prior to the test. Their results were compared to a set of field data from an archipelago area at the entrance of the Gulf of Finland, in August 1999 and autumn 2000. 4.The test group identified sandy beaches, lagoons, submerged sandbanks and cliffs with an accuracy of 82%, 71%, 66% and 65%, respectively. The main reasons for these high accuracy percentages were apparently the high contrast and/or easy delineation of the habitat from the surrounding areas. 5.Reefs, wooded dunes and submerged reefs were identified with an accuracy of 39%, 44% and 45%, respectively. The remaining habitats were less precisely identified, apparently due to their small size or poor contrast to the surrounding areas. 6.High altitude aerial photographs are shown to be a useful tool for identifying several of these habitats and can be used as a complement to field mapping methods, GIS methods and other remote sensing techniques. The use of high altitude photographs for monitoring change is discussed. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Effects of a natural extract of (,)-hydroxycitric acid (HCA-SX) and a combination of HCA-SX plus niacin-bound chromium and Gymnema sylvestre extract on weight lossDIABETES OBESITY & METABOLISM, Issue 3 2004H. G. Preuss Aim:, The efficacy of optimal doses of highly bioavailable (,)-hydroxycitric acid (HCA-SX) alone and in combination with niacin-bound chromium (NBC) and a standardized Gymnema sylvestre extract (GSE) on weight loss in moderately obese subjects was evaluated by monitoring changes in body weight, body mass index (BMI), appetite, lipid profiles, serum leptin and excretion of urinary fat metabolites. HCA-SX has been shown to reduce appetite, inhibit fat synthesis and decrease body weight without stimulating the central nervous system. NBC has demonstrated its ability to maintain healthy insulin levels, while GSE has been shown to regulate weight loss and blood sugar levels. Methods:, A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human study was conducted in Elluru, India for 8 weeks in 60 moderately obese subjects (ages 21,50, BMI >26 kg/m2). Subjects were randomly divided into three groups. Group A was administered HCA-SX 4667 mg, group B was administered a combination of HCA-SX 4667 mg, NBC 4 mg and GSE 400 mg, while group C was given placebo daily in three equally divided doses 30,60 min before meals. All subjects received a 2000 kcal diet/day and participated in supervised walking. Results:, At the end of 8 weeks, body weight and BMI decreased by 5,6% in both groups A and B. Food intake, total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins, triglycerides and serum leptin levels were significantly reduced in both groups, while high-density lipoprotein levels and excretion of urinary fat metabolites increased in both groups. A marginal or non-significant effect was observed in all parameters in group C. Conclusion:, The present study shows that optimal doses of HCA-SX and, to a greater degree, the combination of HCA-SX, NBC and GSE can serve as an effective and safe weight-loss formula that can facilitate a reduction in excess body weight and BMI, while promoting healthy blood lipid levels. [source] Label-Free Impedance Biosensors: Opportunities and ChallengesELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 12 2007Jonathan Abstract Impedance biosensors are a class of electrical biosensors that show promise for point-of-care and other applications due to low cost, ease of miniaturization, and label-free operation. Unlabeled DNA and protein targets can be detected by monitoring changes in surface impedance when a target molecule binds to an immobilized probe. The affinity capture step leads to challenges shared by all label-free affinity biosensors; these challenges are discussed along with others unique to impedance readout. Various possible mechanisms for impedance change upon target binding are discussed. We critically summarize accomplishments of past label-free impedance biosensors and identify areas for future research. [source] Visual Function is Stable in Patients Who Continue Long-Term Vigabatrin Therapy: Implications for Clinical Decision MakingEPILEPSIA, Issue 4 2001Scott R. Paul Summary: ,Purpose: Vigabatrin (VGB) has been shown to cause visual field constriction and other forms of mild visual dysfunction. We determined the safety of continuing VGB therapy in patients who had received prolonged treatment (>2 years) with the drug by serially monitoring changes in visual function over a 1-year period of continued therapy. We also followed up patients who discontinued VGB to see whether alternative therapies are effective. Methods: Fifteen of 17 patients who continued VGB therapy had visual-function testing (visual acuity, color vision, kinetic and static perimetry) every 3 months for 1 year. Eighteen patients who discontinued VGB were given alternative antiepileptic drugs (AEDs); their seizure responses were measured after ,3 months of treatment. Results: Patients continuing VGB showed no worsening of visual acuity, color vision, or visual-field constriction beyond that measured in the initial test. Many patients who discontinued VGB had good seizure control with either newer or previously unsuccessful AEDs. Conclusions: For patients who have an excellent response to VGB and only mild visual changes, continued therapy may be safe with close visual monitoring. Patients who do not have a significant reduction in seizures or who experience considerable visual dysfunction with VGB may respond well to alternative therapies. [source] The periaqueductal grey modulates sensory input to the cerebellum: a role in coping behaviour?EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 11 2009Nadia L. Cerminara Abstract The paths that link the periaqueductal grey (PAG) to hindbrain motor circuits underlying changes in behavioural responsiveness to external stimuli are unknown. A major candidate structure for mediating these effects is the cerebellum. The present experiments test this directly by monitoring changes in size of cerebellar responses evoked by peripheral stimuli following activation of the PAG. In 22 anaesthetized adult Wistar rats, climbing fibre field potentials were recorded from the C1 zone in the paramedian lobule and the copula pyramidis of the cerebellar cortex evoked, respectively, by electrical stimulation of the ipsilateral fore- and hindlimb. An initial and a late response were attributable to activation of A, and A, peripheral afferents respectively (hindlimb onset latencies 16.9 and 23.8 ms). Chemical stimulation at physiologically-identified sites in the ventrolateral PAG (a region known to be associated with hyporeactive immobility) resulted in a significant reduction in size of both the A, and A, evoked field potentials (mean reduction relative to control ± SEM, 59 ± 7.5 and 66 ± 11.9% respectively). Responses evoked by electrical stimulation of the dorsal or ventral funiculus of the spinal cord were also reduced by PAG stimulation, suggesting that part of the modulation may occur at supraspinal sites (including at the level of the inferior olive). Overall, the results provide novel evidence of descending control into motor control centres, and provide the basis for future studies into the role of the PAG in regulating motor activity in different behavioural states and in chronic pain. [source] Phytohaemagglutinin injection has a long-lasting effect on immune cellsJOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY, Issue 5 2009Tuul Sarv Measurement of phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-induced skin swelling is the most popular assay of immune function in avian studies. The mechanisms causing swelling have been relatively well studied; however, very little is known about the potential long term physiological effects of PHA. Here we show that injection of PHA into patagium of captive greenfinches Carduelis chloris increases the concentration of heterophils (phagocytic cells of the innate immune response) in the peripheral blood for at least 30,days. Such long-term consequences should be taken into account when using PHA skin test in studies monitoring changes in individual physiological condition and/or immune status. [source] Impacts of increased nitrogen supply on Norwegian lichen-rich alpine communities: a 10-year experimentJOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2005ELI FREMSTAD Summary 1Species cover was tested during a 10-year fertilization experiment in the low-alpine Cetrarietum nivalis community and the middle-alpine Phyllodoco-Juncetum trifidi community in the Dovre mountains of south-central Norway. Nitrogen was added at 7, 35 and 70 kg N ha,1 year,1, with the highest dose corresponding to approximately 3.5 times the annual deposition in south-west Norway. 2Both communities are dominated by lichens (Cladonia spp. and Cetraria spp., respectively), have a patchy structure and are ,conservative' as regards species content. 3Lichens, which showed a decrease in cover and size, and after some years developed discoloured thalli, are the best organisms for monitoring changes in alpine vegetation that is exposed to increased nitrogen deposition. The most sensitive species in Cetrarietum nivalis appeared to be Alectoria nigricans and Cetraria ericetorum, but more abundant species (Cladonia mitis, C. stellaris and Cetraria nivalis) are likely to be more reliable indicators. Cetraria delisei seems to be a reliable indicator species for monitoring in Phyllodoco-Juncetum trifidi. 4Fertilization had no significant effect on the vascular plants (dwarf shrubs and a few graminoids) in either community, except for Festuca ovina, the cover of which increased slightly. 5Nitrogen pollution may affect oligotrophic, alpine communities differently, depending on their species composition and horizontal structure (patchiness). 6It is suggested that other factors, such as climate, soil properties and community structure, may be more important than long-range nitrogen pollution for determining species composition and species cover in many of the oligotrophic, alpine communities in southern Norway. However, in lichen-rich communities, critical loads have already been exceeded in the most polluted areas of south-west Norway. [source] Rebamipide enema therapy as a treatment for patients with active distal ulcerative colitisJOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 2 2007Ryuichi Furuta Background:, The clinical efficacy of corticosteroids in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) is well-established. However, prolonged usage of these drugs can result in serious complications. Rebamipide {2-(4-chlorobenzoylamino)-3[2-(1H)-quinolinon-4-yl] propionic acid}, a cytoprotective agent, has been reported to have anti-inflammatory activity and to repair mucosal injury in animal colitis models. The aim of the present study was to assess the clinical efficacy and safety of a novel Rebamipide enema therapy in UC patients. Methods:, Twenty patients with the active distal type of UC in whom corticosteroid treatment had been unsuccessful were treated with rectal administration of Rebamipide twice a day for 3 weeks, during which corticosteroid dosage was kept constant. The efficacy of treatment was assessed from clinical symptoms and endoscopic findings. The anti-inflammatory effect of Rebamipide was also examined by monitoring changes in the intensity of histological inflammation and levels of cytokine activity in the rectal mucosa. Results:, At 3 weeks after the initiation of Rebamipide enema therapy, 11 patients (55%) achieved clinical remission. Sixteen (80%) were colonoscopically judged to be responders, with decreased levels of interleukin (IL)-1, but not of IL-8, and an increased ratio of IL-1 receptor antagonist/IL-1, in organ cultures of mucosal tissues. The change in the number of infiltrating neutrophils was not significantly correlated with the clinical response to this therapy. No side-effects were noted in any patients. Conclusion:, Rebamipide enema therapy proved to be safe and useful in corticosteroid-refractory patients with the active distal type of UC. [source] Energy Dissipation and Photoinhibition in Douglas-Fir Needles with a Fungal-Mediated Reduction in Photosynthetic RatesJOURNAL OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 11-12 2002Daniel K. Manter Abstract The dissipation of absorbed light and potential for photooxidative damage was explored in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii ) seedlings with and without Phaeocryptopus gaeumannii infection. The presence of P. gaeumannii significantly reduced net CO2 assimilation rates from ca. 6 ,mol/m2/s to 1.5 ,mol/m2/s, without any significant impact on chloroplast pigments. The partitioning of absorbed light-energy to photochemistry or thermal dissipation was determined from chlorophyll fluorescence measurements. Maximum thermal dissipation for both control and infected needles was ca. 80%, consistent with the similar xanthophyll pool sizes in the two treatments. At high photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), when thermal dissipation was maximized, the lower photochemical utilization in infected needles resulted in greater amounts of excess absorbed light (ca. 20 and 10% for the infected and control needles, respectively). A second experiment, monitoring changes in photosystem II (PSII) efficiency (Fv/Fm) in response to a 1 h high light treatment (PPFD=2000 ,mol/m2/s) also suggests that infected needles absorb greater amounts of excess light. In this experiment, declines in Fv/Fm were 1.5 times greater in infected needles, despite the similar xanthophyll pool sizes. Furthermore, increases in minimum fluorescence (178 and 122% of initial values for the infected and control needles, respectively) suggest that the reduction in PSII efficiency is largely attributable to photooxidative damage. Finally, reductions in PSII efficiency under high light conditions provide a plausible explanation for the greater pathogenicity (e.g. premature needle abscission) of P. gaeumannii in sun-exposed foliage. [source] WHO Atlas on Global Resources for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities 2007: Key Findings Relevant for Low- and Middle-Income CountriesJOURNAL OF POLICY AND PRACTICE IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, Issue 2 2008Céline Mercier Abstract, The World Health Organization (WHO) Atlas-ID project was designed to collect, compile, and disseminate information on intellectual disabilities (ID) services and resources from across the world. This paper aims at selecting findings in the Atlas-ID that can be used as a tool for advocacy, human rights awareness, development planning, and monitoring changes regarding resources for persons with intellectual disabilities and their families in countries with the lowest levels of income in the world. After consultation with experts in the field of ID, a questionnaire and its accompanying glossary were developed. This questionnaire was completed by national respondents from 147 countries, areas, and territories that are WHO members (response rate of 74.6% corresponding to 94.6% of the world population). Cross-tabulations were calculated according to WHO region that the countries belong to as well as their levels of income. The data from the Atlas-ID allowed for documenting similarities and differences among the poorest and the richest countries of the world in relation to ID. The most striking differences pertain to the areas of information, judicial protection, government benefits, financing, availability, and access to services. The Atlas-ID allowed the identification of similarities and differences in resources and services between the four World Bank categories of countries income, and it demonstrated the extent of unmet needs in low-income and low-middle-income countries, as well as some critical gaps between these countries and the high-level income countries. [source] Crosslinking of PVC formulations treated with UV lightJOURNAL OF VINYL & ADDITIVE TECHNOLOGY, Issue 2 2006G. Arias Typical wire and cable formulations of plasticized Poly(vinyl chloride) were prepared with three different stabilizer systems: Ca/Zn (2:1 or 1:1) and dibasic lead phthalate. The mixtures contained trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TMPTMA) as crosslinking agent and a UV photoinitiator (Irgacure 819). Mixtures were dry-blended, then roll-milled and to finally hot-pressed at 180°C to obtain sheets of 1 and 1.5 mm thickness. Small specimens (3 × 3 cm) were irradiated with UV light for up to 10 days while monitoring changes at different time intervals. The presence of TMPTMA in the samples, as expected, influenced the storage modulus (E,) and gel content percentage, specifically for the thinner samples. These results indicated that UV irradiation produced surface crosslinking. The samples with crosslinking agent also reached higher carbonyl index values. The Ca/Zn formulations showed higher mechanical properties with respect to the Pb ones, thus suggesting that during the stabilization period of the Ca/Zn mixtures, an effective crosslinking was promoted. Irregular behavior was observed during the last days of treatment for both types of formulations, thereby suggesting an optimum irradiation time for this procedure. J. VINYL. ADDIT. TECHNOL. 12:49,54, 2006. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers. [source] Shelf life of vegetable oils bottled in different scavenging polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) containersPACKAGING TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Issue 5 2008R. Sacchi Abstract The shelf life of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and sunflower oil (SO) bottled in containers with different levels of oxygen scavenger (OS) and stored at room temperature under diffuse lighting conditions for 6 months has been evaluated. Four packaging materials were tested: glass, polyethyleneterephthalate (PET), PET including 1% of OS (PET 1%) and PET including 5% of OS (PET 5%). Free acidity, peroxide value (PV), spectrophotometric indices (K232, K270, ,K), antioxidant (biophenols and tocopherols) content, pigment (chlorophylls and carotenoids) change and the amount of oxygen dissolved in the oil were monitored during storage. A significant influence of the packaging material on the quality decay was not found. The differences in the shelf life observed between oils bottled in PET and oils bottled in glass are attributable to a difference in the initial content of dissolved oxygen in the oils. The study showed the usefulness of monitoring changes in dissolved oxygen level, antioxidant (phenols and tocopherols) and pigment (chlorophyll and carotenoids) profiles during oil storage. The change of these compounds could in fact supply important information on the oxidation processes that occur in bottled oils and on the effectiveness of the material employed in oil packaging. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A fiber optic thermoset cure monitoring sensorPOLYMER COMPOSITES, Issue 4 2000Michele Giordano Curing determines the chemical and physical properties of a reacting resin. Among these, the optical properties strongly correlate with the structural features of the developing polymeric network. By monitoring changes of the refractive index, it is possible to analyze the polymerization of thermoset resin. In this work, a fiber optic sensor system has been designed and developed (based on the optical time domain reflectometry principle) to measure the reflection coefficient at the interface between the fiber optic and the resin during a curing process. Correlation between the sensor output and conversion has been proposed, following the Lorentz-Lorenz law. Isothermal data from the sensor have been compared with calorimetric analysis of an epoxy-based resin. [source] Nasal Provocation Testing as an International Standard for Evaluation of Allergic and Nonallergic RhinitisTHE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 3 2005Jan Gosepath MD Abstract Standardized nasal provocation testing (NPT) has been shown to be a safe and very useful tool in the diagnosis of allergic and nonallergic rhinitis. However, in the United States, its use has been mostly limited to scientific investigations, and it has not yet been widely accepted as a standard diagnostic procedure in clinical practice. NPT aims to identify and quantify the clinical relevance of inhalant allergens or occupational irritants. During NPT, nasal respiratory mucosa is exposed to an airborne substance suspected to cause symptoms in the respective individual. Clinical reactions are monitored in a controlled and standardized fashion. Nasal secretions, symptoms such as itching, sneezing and, most importantly, nasal obstruction are assessed as well as ocular, bronchial, cutaneous, and systemic reactions. To achieve objective data on changes in nasal airflow and patency after the challenge, anterior rhinomanometry and acoustic rhinometry have been included in the standard protocol of NPT. By monitoring changes of nasal airflow on one hand and of nasal geometry on the other hand, these methods display nasal function in a graphic way just as speech and pure tone audiometry do for auditory function. Also, by their objective nature, these methods offer a clear and internationally comparable standard. This review outlines a protocol for NPT and discusses practical applications and clinical indications. The use of rhinomanometry and acoustic rhinometry as objective diagnostic tools is emphasized. For the diagnosis of allergic and occupational rhinitis, standardized NPT should be regarded as an international diagnostic standard. [source] Functional Regression Analysis of Fluorescence CurvesBIOMETRICS, Issue 2 2009Christian Ritz Summary Fluorescence curves are useful for monitoring changes in photosynthesis activity. Various summary measures have been used to quantify differences among fluorescence curves corresponding to different treatments, but these approaches may forfeit valuable information. As each individual fluorescence curve is a functional observation, it is natural to consider a functional regression model. The proposed model consists of a nonparametric component capturing the general form of the curves and a semiparametric component describing the differences among treatments and allowing comparisons of treatments. Several graphical model-checking approaches are introduced. Both approximate, asymptotic confidence intervals as well as simulation-based confidence intervals are available. Analysis of data from a crop experiment using the proposed model shows that the salient features in the fluorescence curves are captured adequately. The proposed functional regression model is useful for analysis of high throughput fluorescence curve data from regular monitoring or screening of plant growth. [source] Physicochemical properties of thiol proteinase inhibitor isolated from goat pancreasBIOPOLYMERS, Issue 8 2010Medha Priyadarshini Abstract Thiol proteinase inhibitors are crucial to proper functioning of all living tissues consequent to their cathepsin regulatory and myriad important biologic properties. Equilibrium denaturation of dimeric goat pancreas thiol proteinase inhibitor (PTPI), a cystatin superfamily variant has been studied by monitoring changes in the protein's spectroscopic and functional characteristics. Denaturation of PTPI in guanidine hydrochloride and urea resulted in altered intrinsic fluorescence emission spectrum, diminished negative circular dichroism, and loss of its papain inhibitory potential. Native like spectroscopic properties and inhibitory activity are only partially restored when denaturant is diluted from guanidine hydrochloride unfolded samples demonstrating that process is partially reversible. Coincidence of transition curves and dependence of transition midpoint (3.2M) on protein concentration in guanidine hydrochloride-induced denaturation are consistent with a two-state model involving a native like dimer and denatured monomer. On the contrary, urea-induced unfolding of PTPI is a multiphasic process with indiscernible intermediates. The studies demonstrate that functional conformation and stability are governed by both ionic and hydrophobic interactions. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 93: 708,717, 2010. This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The "Published Online" date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com [source] Effect of PbII on the Secondary Structure and Biological Activity of TrypsinCHEMBIOCHEM, Issue 7 2005Lin Yang Prof. Abstract The effects of PbIIon the secondary structure and biological activity of trypsin have been examined by monitoring changes in its conductivity and IR and circular dichroism (CD) spectra. The results show that PbIIreacts with trypsin, and that the binding sites might be OH and NH groups in pepsin. The CD spectra indicate that interaction with PbIIsignificantly affects the secondary structure of trypsin, the ,-sheet-structure content being increased by about 42,%, whilst those of ,-helix and ,-turn structures are decreased by 13,% and 21,%, respectively. The results clearly demonstrate that PbIIaffects the biological activity of trypsin by modifying its secondary structure. Most interesting is that PbIIup-regulates the activity of trypsin at low concentrations while down-regulating it at high concentrations. [source] A Comparison of the Effects of Olopatadine and Ketotifen on Model MembranesACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2000Howard Brockman ABSTRACT. Olopatadine is a human conjunctival mast cell stabilizer with anti-histaminic activity. Ketotifen is an older molecule that possesses antihistaminic activity and is reported to have additional pharmacological properties. The interactions of these two compounds with model membranes (i.e., monolayers of 1-stearoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycerophosphocholine at the argon-buffer interface), and natural (i.e., erythrocyte) membranes were compared in an effort to understand the differences in their biological activities. Drug-lipid interaction with monolayers was determined by monitoring the surface pressure as a function of the drug concentration in the aqueous phase supporting the monolayer. Drug interaction with erythrocyte membranes was determined by monitoring changes in the permeability of the membranes to hemoglobin and 6-carboxyfluorescein as a function of drug concentration in the medium. Olopatadine and ketotifen are both intrinsically surface active and both interact with phospholipid monolayers. However, in both the presence and absence of lipid monolayers, the changes in surface pressure induced by olopatadine are lower than those caused by ketotifen. The effects of these two drugs on cell membranes were dramatically different. Exposure of bovine erythrocytes to increasing concentrations of ketotifen (1,10 mM) resulted in complete hemolysis of the cells, whereas olopatadine (1,10 mM) caused only minimal hemolysis (<8%). Consistent results were obtained in experiments measuring the leakage of 6-carboxyfluorescein from erythrocyte ghosts as a more sensitive marker of membrane perturbation. Olopatadine treatment (0.1,10 mM) minimally perturbed the cell membrane while ketotifen (1,10 mM) caused a concentration dependent release of the fluorescent marker. These data demonstrate fundamental differences between the two drugs in their effects on cell membranes. Moreover, the differences are consistent with the surface activities of the two compounds measured in monolayers and with reported differences in their pharmacological activities. These findings offer an explanation for the biphasic non-specific cytotoxic effect of ketotifen on histamine release from mast cells and may account for the non-lytic mast cell stabilizing activity of olopatadine. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||