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Newer Technologies (newer + technology)
Selected AbstractsSurface plasmon resonance for high-throughput ligand screening of membrane-bound proteinsBIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL, Issue 11 2009Jennifer A. Maynard Dr. Abstract Technologies based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) have allowed rapid, label-free characterization of protein-protein and protein-small molecule interactions. SPR has become the gold standard in industrial and academic settings, in which the interaction between a pair of soluble binding partners is characterized in detail or a library of molecules is screened for binding against a single soluble protein. In spite of these successes, SPR is only beginning to be adapted to the needs of membrane-bound proteins which are difficult to study in situ but represent promising targets for drug and biomarker development. Existing technologies, such as BIAcoreTM, have been adapted for membrane protein analysis by building supported lipid layers or capturing lipid vesicles on existing chips. Newer technologies, still in development, will allow membrane proteins to be presented in native or near-native formats. These include SPR nanopore arrays, in which lipid bilayers containing membrane proteins stably span small pores that are addressable from both sides of the bilayer. Here, we discuss current SPR instrumentation and the potential for SPR nanopore arrays to enable quantitative, high-throughput screening of G protein coupled receptor ligands and applications in basic cellular biology. [source] Hemodynamic Correlates of the Third Heart Sound and Systolic Time IntervalsCONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE, Issue 2006Sanjiv J. Shah MD Bedside diagnostic tools remain important in the care of patients with heart failure. Over the past two centuries, cardiac auscultation and phonocardiography have been essential in understanding cardiac pathophysiology and caring for patients with heart disease. Diastolic heart sounds (S3 and S4) and systolic time intervals have been particularly useful in this regard. Unfortunately, auscultation skills have declined considerably, and systolic time intervals have traditionally required carotid pulse tracings. Newer technology allows the automated detection of heart sounds and measurement of systolic time intervals in a simple, inexpensive, noninvasive system. Using the newer system, the authors present data on the hemodynamic correlates of the S3 and abnormal systolic time intervals. These data serve as the foundation for using the system to better understand the test characteristics and pathophysiology of the S3 and systolic time intervals, and help to define their use in improving the bedside diagnosis and management of patients with heart failure. [source] Managing obstruction of the central airwaysINTERNAL MEDICINE JOURNAL, Issue 6 2010J. P. Williamson Abstract Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in Australia, Europe and the USA. Up to 20,30% of these cancers eventually affect the central airways and result in reduced quality of life, dyspnoea, haemoptysis, post-obstructive pneumonia and ultimately death. Non-malignant processes may also lead to central airway obstruction and can have similar symptoms. With the development of newer technologies, the last 20 years have seen the emergence of the field of interventional pulmonology to deal specifically with the diagnosis and management of thoracic malignancy, including obstruction of the central airways. This review discusses the pathology, pre-procedure work-up and management options for obstructing central airway lesions. Several treatment modalities exist for dealing with endobronchial pathology with local availability and expertise guiding choice of treatment. While the literature lacks large, multicentre, randomized studies defining the optimal management strategy for a given problem, there is growing evidence from numerous case studies of improved physiology, of quality of life and possibly of survival with modern interventional techniques. [source] Diagnostic and therapeutic use of radioisotopes for bony disease in prostate cancer: Current practiceINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 2 2007Nathan Lawrentschuk Abstract: Nuclear medicine techniques continue to be important non-invasive imaging tools assisting the diagnosis, monitoring and , in some cases , treatment of prostate cancer. Bone scintigraphy was the premier modality to have an extensive role in the staging of prostate cancer and has remained an integral tool for over three decades in the assessment of newly diagnosed disease or in follow-up staging. Therapeutic treatment and palliation of disseminated disease, particularly in the skeleton, has also been successful with several radioisotopes including strontium-89 chloride. Despite advances in nuclear medicine techniques and molecular imaging technology such as positron emission tomography and radioimmunoscintigraphy, bone scintigraphy still remains the gold standard in the assessment of osseous metastatic disease in prostate cancer. Thus, it is important to continually review the modalities that have remained important over time and not just to focus on newer technologies. This article summarizes the current diagnostic and therapeutic use of radioisotopes for bony disease in prostate cancer with particular reference to radionuclide bone scintigraphy and positron emission tomography. [source] Mechanical Support for Postcardiotomy Cardiogenic Shock: Has Progress Been Made?JOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 4 2010Erik A. Sylvin M.D. A previous review of this topic by our group suggested that regardless of device, only 25% of patients survived to hospital discharge. In the interim, newer technologies have entered the clinical arena. Additional contributions have been made to the literature and new databases are collecting data that are likely to provide more robust guidance for the management of these very complex patients. In this review, we update the experience of mechanical support in the PCCS patient and provide a strategy to maximize survival for a patient who develops PCCS in the community cardiac surgery center. (J Card Surg 2010;25:442-454) [source] Technology use in campus crisisNEW DIRECTIONS FOR STUDENT SERVICES, Issue 124 2008Jeanna Mastrodicasa College students are connecting with peers and college administrators in different ways in times of crisis. Lessons learned from the impact of Hurricane Katrina and the mass shooting at Virginia Tech have shifted the methods of response in the event of campus crisis to newer technologies. [source] A 10-year experience of managing ureteric calculi: changing trends towards endourological intervention,is there a role for open surgery?BJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2001M.H. Ather Objectives To study changing practices in the management of ureterolithiasis with the introduction of newer technologies, the efficacy and safety of endourology, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and open surgery, and to determine if any indication remains for open ureterolithotomy in a tertiary endourology unit. Patients and methods A 12-year retrospective review (1987,1998) was conducted of all primary ureteric stones treated by ESWL, endoscopy, intracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ISWL) administered via ureteroscopy, and open surgery. Results In all, 1195 patients were treated for primary ureteric stones, 44% by ESWL, 37% by ureteroscopy and ISWL, and 20% by open surgery. At the 3-month follow-up the stone-free rates for ESWL monotherapy, ureteroscopy and open surgery were 95%, 85% and 97%, giving an efficiency quotient of 73%, 64% and 94%, respectively. The overall complication rate for ESWL was 13%, for ISWL 32% and for open surgery 13%, but the complications of open surgery were often serious and potentially life-threatening. Conclusions With recent advances in endourology the indications for open surgery have decreased considerably, from 26% in 1987,95 to 8% in 1996,98. However, the remaining indications for open ureterolithotomy include failure of less invasive modalities, the presence of medical/anatomical abnormalities, a concomitant open procedure, and the presence of large impacted calculi for which patients prefer to avoid multiple procedures. [source] A Critical Review of Milk Fouling in Heat ExchangersCOMPREHENSIVE REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND FOOD SAFETY, Issue 2 2006Bipan Bansal ABSTRACT Fouling of heat exchangers is a problem in the dairy industry and costs billions of dollars every year. It has been studied extensively by researchers around the world, and a large number of studies are reported in the literature. This review focuses on the mechanisms of milk fouling, investigating the role of protein denaturation and aggregation as well as mass transfer. We also endeavor to review the effect of a number of factors which have been classified into 5 categories: (1) milk quality, (2) operating conditions, (3) type and characteristics of heat exchangers, (4) presence of microorganisms, and (5) transfer of location where fouling takes place. Different aspects have been discussed with the view of possible industrial applications and future direction for research. It may not be possible to alter the properties of milk since they are dependent on the source, collection schedule, season, and many other factors. Lowering the surface temperature and increasing the flow velocity tend to reduce fouling. Reducing the heat transfer surface roughness and wettability is likely to lower the tendency of the proteins to adsorb onto the surface. The use of newer technologies like microwave heating and ohmic heating is gaining momentum because these result in lower fouling; however, further research is required to realize their full potential. The presence of microorganisms creates problem. The situation gets worse when the microorganisms get released into the process stream. The location where fouling takes place is of paramount importance because controlling fouling within the heat exchanger may yield little benefit in case fouling starts taking place elsewhere in the plant. [source] Performance of Phonoelectrocardiographic Left Ventricular Systolic Time Intervals and B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Levels in the Diagnosis of Left Ventricular DysfunctionANNALS OF NONINVASIVE ELECTROCARDIOLOGY, Issue 2 2007Brian Moyers M.D. Background: Systolic time intervals measured by echocardiography and carotid artery tracings are validated methods of assessing left ventricular function. However, the clinical utility of phonoelectrocardiographic systolic time intervals for predicting heart failure using newer technology has not been evaluated. Methods: We enrolled 100 adult patients undergoing left heart catheterization. Participants underwent computerized phonoelectrocardiographic analysis, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) measurement, transthoracic echocardiographic measurement of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) testing. The heart rate-adjusted systolic time intervals included the time from the Q wave onset to peak S1 (electromechanical activation time, EMAT), Q wave onset to peak S2 (electromechanical systole, Q-S2), and peak S1 to peak S2 (left ventricular systolic time, LVST). Left ventricular dysfunction was defined as the presence of both LVEDP >15 mmHg and LVEF <50%. Results: EMAT (r =,0.51; P < 0.0001), EMAT/LVST (r =,0.41; P = 0.0001), and Q-S2 (r =,0.39; P = 0.0003) correlated with LVEF, but not with LVEDP. An abnormal EMAT ,15 (odds ratio 1.38, P < 0.0001) and EMAT/LVST ,0.40 (OR 1.13, P = 0.002) were associated with left ventricular dysfunction. EMAT ,15 had 44% sensitivity, 94% specificity, and a 7.0 likelihood ratio for left ventricular dysfunction, while EMAT/LVST ,0.40 had 55% sensitivity, 95% specificity, and a 11.7 likelihood ratio. In patients with an intermediate BNP (100,500 pg/mL), the likelihood ratio increased from 1.1 using the BNP result alone to 11.0 when adding a positive EMAT test for predicting left ventricular dysfunction. Conclusions: Phonoelectrocardiographic measures of systolic time intervals are insensitive but highly specific tests for detecting abnormalities in objective markers of left ventricular function. EMAT and EMAT/LVST provide diagnostic information independent of BNP for detecting patients with left ventricular dysfunction. [source] BLASTING OUT: EXPLOSIVES PRACTICES IN QUEENSLAND METALLIFEROUS MINES, 1870,1920AUSTRALIAN ECONOMIC HISTORY REVIEW, Issue 2 2010Jan Helen Wegner explosives; mining; Queensland; technology The use of explosives in mines in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was notoriously unsafe. In Queensland's underground metalliferous mines, explosive practices could be dangerous not only because of the attitudes of miners and managers, but because of problems inherent to the technology, conditions underground, economic fluctuations, and the persistence of outmoded practices. Some limited specialisation of labour occurred in the interests of safety, and although newer technology had the potential to deskill the work of miners, these developments were quite dissimilar to the highly specialised work practices that were adopted for large-scale mining in the United States during the same period. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||