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Average Loss (average + loss)
Selected AbstractsLoss of Solute Carriers in T Cell-Mediated Rejection in Mouse and Human Kidneys: An Active Epithelial Injury,Repair ResponseAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 10 2010G. Einecke T cell-mediated rejection of kidney allografts causes epithelial deterioration, manifested by tubulitis, but the mechanism remains unclear. We hypothesized that interstitial inflammation triggers a stereotyped epithelial response similar to that triggered by other types of injury such as ischemia-reperfusion. We identified solute carrier transcripts with decreased expression in mouse allografts, and compared their behavior in T cell-mediated rejection to native kidneys with ischemic acute tubular necrosis (ATN). Average loss of solute carrier expression was similar in ATN (77%) and T cell-mediated rejection (75%) with high correlation of individual transcripts. Immunostaining of SLC6A19 confirmed loss of proteins. Analysis of human kidney transplant biopsies confirmed that T cell-mediated rejection and ATN showed similar loss of solute carrier mRNAs. The loss of solute carrier expression was weakly correlated with interstitial inflammation, but kidneys with ATN showed decreased solute carriers despite minimal inflammation. Loss of renal function correlated better with decreased solute carrier expression than with histologic lesions (r = 0.396, p < 0.001). Thus the loss of epithelial transcripts in rejection is not a unique consequence of T cell-mediated rejection but an active injury,repair response of epithelium, triggered by rejection but also by other injury mechanisms. [source] Detachment of sprayed colloidal copper oxychloride,metalaxyl fungicides by a shallow water flowPEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE (FORMERLY: PESTICIDE SCIENCE), Issue 6 2009Eva Pose-Juan Abstract BACKGROUND: Flow shear stress induced by rainfall promotes the loss of the pesticides sprayed on crops. Some of the factors influencing the losses of colloidal-size particulate fungicides are quantified by using a rotating shear system model. With this device it was possible to analyse the flow shear influencing washoff of a commercial fungicide formulation based on a copper oxychloride,metalaxyl mixture that was sprayed on a polypropylene surface. A factor plan with four variables, i.e. water speed and volume (both variables determining flow boundary stress in the shear device), formulation dosage and drying temperature, was set up to monitor colloid detachment. RESULTS: This experimental design, together with sorption experiments of metalaxyl on copper oxychloride, and the study of the dynamics of metalaxyl and copper oxychloride washoff, made it possible to prove that metalaxyl washoff from a polypropylene surface is controlled by transport in solution, whereas that of copper oxychloride occurs by particle detachment and transport of particles. Average losses for metalaxyl and copper oxychloride were, respectively, 29 and 50% of the quantity applied at the usual recommended dosage for crops. CONCLUSION: The key factors affecting losses were flow shear and the applied dosage. Empirical models using these factors provided good estimates of the percentage of fungicide loss. From the factor analysis, the main mechanism for metalaxyl loss induced by a shallow water flow is solubilisation, whereas copper loss is controlled by erosion of copper oxychloride particles. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Guidelines for restoring connectivity around water mills: a population genetic approach to the management of riverine fishJOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2009Joost A. M. Raeymaekers Summary 1While freshwater systems provide important goods and services for society, they are threatened by human activity. Fragmentation is one of the most serious ecological concerns in the riverine environment. 2Historical and cultural values may conflict with nature restoration. Here we use the Zwalm sub-basin (Scheldt basin, Belgium) as a case study for reconciling the restoration of the native fish fauna with the preservation of historical water mills (320,1000 years old). 3We assessed the genetic structure of a barrier-sensitive species, the three-spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus, to estimate the impact of fragmentation on a local to catchment scale. We show how population genetic approaches may be used to generate guidelines for restoration and management, and advance the science of river restoration. 4Dispersal was lower in above- than in below-mill populations, and water mills provoked an average loss of almost 4% of the genetic variation. This loss accumulated to 40% over the entire system (~23 km, 13 barriers). The impact of individual mills strongly increased with upstream distance and water mill height. One mill provoked significant genetic differentiation, despite the presence of a fish passage. 5This detailed picture of the genetic connectivity in stickleback is indicative for the basin's depauperate fauna. Many species share the same migratory pathways and barriers to dispersal. The physical properties of the water mills are likely to have similar effects on species with a similar genetic structure to stickleback. 6Synthesis and applications. Population genetic studies may be particularly useful during the planning of river restoration and associated ecological studies. In the case of the Zwalm sub-basin, we propose a number of management actions, such as building new fish passages and translocating individuals to above-mill populations. These will counter the negative impact of the water mills on the genetic variation in aquatic fauna, whilst retaining their cultural,economical value and limiting the restoration costs. Simulations suggest that reassessment of stickleback genetic structure after a decade should reveal whether or not restoration actions have been effective. [source] Improvement in arm and post-partum abdominal and flank subcutaneous fat deposits and skin laxity using a bipolar radiofrequency, infrared, vacuum and mechanical massage deviceLASERS IN SURGERY AND MEDICINE, Issue 10 2009Lori Brightman MD Abstract Background and Objectives Skin laxity of the body is a growing cosmetic concern. Laxity can result from chronological or photoaging and changes in body dimensions during pregnancy or weight loss. The end result is loose, sagging skin, and localized fat deposits. Liposuction and abdominoplasty or brachioplasty are established approaches to these issues. Patient desire for alternatives to surgical correction has spawned the development of non-invasive body contouring devices. The combination of infrared light (IR), bipolar radiofrequency (RF), vacuum and mechanical massage (Velashape, Syneron Medical Ltd, Israel) has demonstrated efficacy in improving skin appearance and circumference of the thighs [Goldberg et al., Derm Surg 2008; 34:204,209; Fisher et al., Derm Surg 2005; 31:1237,1241; Arnoczky and Aksan, J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2000; 8:305,313; Alster and Tanzi, J Cosmetic Laser Therapy 2005; 7:81,85; Wanitphakdeedecha and Manuskiatti, J Cosmet Dermatol 2006; 5:284,288; Nootheti et al., Lasers Surg Med 2006; 38: 908,912], but only anecdotal evidence has supported its use on other anatomic locations. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Velashape on additional body sites and more rigorously examine the technology's impact on upper arm as well as abdominal and flank circumference. Study Design and Methods Subjects were 28,70 years old, skin types I,V. Nineteen subjects underwent 5 weekly treatments of the upper arms, and 10 subjects underwent 4 weekly treatments of the abdomen and flanks. Treatments were performed using Velashape. Circumference measurements, photographs, and subject weights were performed prior to treatment and at 1- and 3-month follow-ups. Subjects were asked to record their treatment satisfaction level. Results Change in arm circumference, at the 5th treatment was statistically significant with a mean loss of 0.625,cm. At 1- and 3-month follow-ups, mean loss was 0.71 and 0.597,cm respectively. Reduction of abdominal circumference at 3rd treatment was statistically significant with a 1.25,cm mean loss. At 1- and 3-month follow-ups, average loss was 1.43 and 1.82,cm respectively. Conclusions This study demonstrates with statistical significance, sustainable reduction in circumference and improvement in appearance of arms and abdomen following treatment with Velashape. Lasers Surg. Med. 41:791,798, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Balanced BPSK modulator for Ka-band communication systemsMICROWAVE AND OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 12 2007Ashok Mittal Abstract This article details the design of balanced PSK modulator using integrated finline coplanar line hybrid junction. The PSK signal output is in suspended stripline with incident wave carrier in unilateral symmetric finline. Schottky barrier diodes MA4E2037 from M/ACom has been used for modulation. The balanced configuration offers high isolation between the carrier input port and the modulated carrier output port and thus the pulse width variations and amplitude deviations are suppressed. An insertion loss imbalance of ±1.5 dB with an average loss of 2.5 dB in the two switching states has been achieved over 37.0 to 38.0 GHz against the estimated loss of 2.0 dB. The phase imbalance is ±10° with phase switching from 165° to 185°. As the PSK output signal is in suspended stripline, two BPSK Modulators can easily be combined together to work as QPSK modulator for point to point millimeter wave radio links. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 49: 3046,3049, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.22910 [source] Modeling and analysis of multiobjective lot splitting for N -product M -machine flowshop linesNAVAL RESEARCH LOGISTICS: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 4 2010Yossi Bukchin Abstract Lot splitting is a new approach for improving productivity by dividing production lots into sublots. This approach enables accelerating production flow, reducing lead-time and increasing the utilization of organization resources. Most of the lot splitting models in the literature have addressed a single objective problem, usually the makespan or flowtime objectives. Simultaneous minimization of these two objectives has rarely been addressed in the literature despite of its high relevancy to most industrial environments. This work aims at solving a multiobjective lot splitting problem for multiple products in a flowshop environment. Tight mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) formulations for minimizing the makespan and flowtime are presented. Then, the MinMax solution, which takes both objectives into consideration, is defined and suggested as an alternative objective. By solving the MILP model, it was found that minimizing one objective results in an average loss of about 15% in the other objective. The MinMax solution, on the other hand, results in an average loss of 4.6% from the furthest objective and 2.5% from the closest objective. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2010 [source] A bivariate optimal replacement policy for a cold standby repairable system with repair priorityNAVAL RESEARCH LOGISTICS: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 2 2010Kit Nam Francis Leung Abstract In this article, an optimal replacement policy for a cold standby repairable system consisting of two dissimilar components with repair priority is studied. Assume that both Components 1 and 2, after repair, are not as good as new, and the main component (Component 1) has repair priority. Both the sequence of working times and that of the components'repair times are generated by geometric processes. We consider a bivariate replacement policy (T,N) in which the system is replaced when either cumulative working time of Component 1 reaches T, or the number of failures of Component 1 reaches N, whichever occurs first. The problem is to determine the optimal replacement policy (T,N)* such that the long run average loss per unit time (or simply the average loss rate) of the system is minimized. An explicit expression of this rate is derived, and then optimal policy (T,N)* can be numerically determined through a two-dimensional-search procedure. A numerical example is given to illustrate the model's applicability and procedure, and to illustrate some properties of the optimal solution. We also show that if replacements are made solely on the basis of the number of failures N, or solely on the basis of the cumulative working time T, the former class of policies performs better than the latter, albeit only under some mild conditions. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2010 [source] Productivity loss in the workforce: associations with health, work demands, and individual characteristicsAMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 1 2009Seyed Mohammad Alavinia MD Abstract Background Decreased productivity at work is an important consequence of the presence of health problems at work. Methods The study population consisted of 2,252 workers in 24 different companies in The Netherlands in 2005,2006 (response 56%). Self-reported loss of productivity on the previous workday was measured on a 10-point numerical rating scale by the Quantity and Quality method. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the associations between work demands, health problems, individual characteristics, and lifestyle factors with the occurrence of productivity loss. Results About 45% of the workers reported some degree of productivity loss on the previous workday, with an average loss of 11%. Moderate and severe functional limitations due to health problems (OR,=,1.28 and 1.63, respectively) and lack of control at work (OR,=,1.36) were associated with productivity loss at work with population attributable fractions of 7%, 6%, and 16%, respectively. Conclusion Productivity losses at work frequently occur due to health problems and subsequent impairments, and lack of control over the pace and planning of work. This will substantially contribute to indirect costs of health problems among workers. Am. J. Ind. Med. 52:49,56, 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Longitudinal study of vision and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in multiple sclerosisANNALS OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 6 2010Lauren S. Talman BA Objective Cross-sectional studies of optical coherence tomography (OCT) show that retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness is reduced in multiple sclerosis (MS) and correlates with visual function. We determined how longitudinal changes in RNFL thickness relate to visual loss. We also examined patterns of RNFL thinning over time in MS eyes with and without a prior history of acute optic neuritis (ON). Methods Patients underwent OCT measurement of RNFL thickness at baseline and at 6-month intervals during a mean follow-up of 18 months at 3 centers. Low-contrast letter acuity (2.5%, 1.25% contrast) and visual acuity (VA) were assessed. Results Among 299 patients (593 eyes) with ,6 months follow-up, eyes with visual loss showed greater RNFL thinning compared to eyes with stable vision (low-contrast acuity, 2.5%: p < 0.001; VA: p = 0.005). RNFL thinning increased over time, with average losses of 2.9,m at 2 to 3 years and 6.1,m at 3 to 4.5 years (p < 0.001 vs 0.5,1-year follow-up interval). These patterns were observed for eyes with or without prior history of ON. Proportions of eyes with RNFL loss greater than test-retest variability (,6.6,m) increased from 11% at 0 to 1 year to 44% at 3 to 4.5 years (p < 0.001). Interpretation Progressive RNFL thinning occurs as a function of time in some patients with MS, even in the absence of ON, and is associated with clinically significant visual loss. These findings are consistent with subclinical axonal loss in the anterior visual pathway in MS, and support the use of OCT and low-contrast acuity as methods to evaluate the effectiveness of putative neuroprotection protocols. ANN NEUROL 2010;67:749,760 [source] | ||||||||||