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Simultaneous Use (simultaneous + use)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	53%
Life Sciences	21%
Chemistry	12%
Business, Economics, Finance and Accounting	6%
2 Other Domains	8%

Distribution within Medical Sciences

Dermatology	11%

Selected Abstracts

Nursing Diagnosis and Nursing Theory: Exploration of Factors Inhibiting and Supporting Simultaneous Use

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING TERMINOLOGIES AND CLASSIFICATION, Issue 2 2002
FAAN, Noreen C. Frisch PhD
PURPOSE. To explore the values and philosophies of nursing theories that inhibit the simultaneous use of nursing diagnosis and nursing theory. SOURCES.Published articles, books, book chapters. DATA SYNTHESIS. Four factors in the literature and reflected in practice may have had a negative influence on the use of nursing diagnoses: (a) commitment to the uniqueness of each person, (b) an abandonment of the nursing process, (c) a perspective that nursing care is an evolving interaction, and (d) a belief that theory-derived language is more articulate and precise than standard classifications. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS.Strategies for combining theory and diagnoses include emphasizing the diagnostic terms as professional shorthand and permitting flexibility in modifying diagnoses as needed; widely disseminating the concept that classification can be used effectively with newer iterations of the nursing process reflecting circular, simultaneous, and intuitive processes; developing classification language based on concepts of hypothesis and perception; and including diagnostic categories associated with theoretical perspectives. Search terms:Nursing classifications, nursing diagnoses, nursing theory Diagnostics infirmiers et théories de soins: Exploration des facteurs qui freinent et soutiennent leur utilisation simultanée BUT.Explorer les valeurs et les conceptions à la base des théories de soins qui inhibent I'utilisation des diagnostics infirmiers avec les théories de soin. SOURCES.Articles, manuels, chapitres d'ouvrages. SYNTHÈSE DES DONNÉES.Les données de la littérature professionnelle et l'examen de la pratique ont permis d'identifier quatre facteurs qui ont pu avoir une influence négative sur l'utilisation des diagnostics infirmiers: (a) l'importance donnée au caractère unique de chaque personne; (b) l'abandon de la démarche de soins; (c) l'idée que le soin est fait d'interactions en évolution constante; (d) la croyance que le langage découlant de la théorie est plus précis et articulé que les classifications normalisées. IMPLICATIONS POUR LA PRATIQUE.Quelques stratégies pourraient faciliter la combinaison de la théorie et des diagnostics, notamment: souligner le fait que les termes des diagnostics constituent une sorte de sténographie professionnelle et permettre la flexibilité pour les modifier; disséminer le fait que les classifications peuvent être utiles dans une démarche de soin rénovée, reflétant les aspects circulaires, simultanés et intuitifs du raisonnement; développer un langage basé sur les concepts d'hypothéses et de perceptions et inclure des catégories diagnostiques associées à des courants théoriques. Mots-clés:Classifications de soins, diagnostics infirmiers, théories de soins Diagnóstico de enfermagem e teoria de enfermagem: Exploração dos fatores inibidores e estimuladores do seu uso simultâneo OBJETIVO.Explorar os valores e filosofias das teorias de enfermagem que inibem o uso simultâneo dos diagnósticos de enfermagem e das teorias de enfermagem. FONTES.Artigos publicados, livros, capítulos de livros. SÍNTESE DOS DADOS.Quatro fatores citados na literatura e refletidos na prática podem ter tido uma influência negativa no uso dos diagnóstics de enfermagem: (a) compromisso com a singularidade de cada pessoa, (b) um abandono do processo de enfermagem, (c) uma perspectiva de que o cuidado de enfermagem é uma interação que evolui e (d) uma crença de que uma linguagem derivada da teoria é mais articulada e precisa do que classificações padronizadas. IMPLICAÇÕES PARA A PRÁTICA.Estratégias para combinar teoria e diagnósticos incluem enfatizar os termos diagnóstics como uma taquigrafia profissional e permitir flexibilidade para modificar diagnósticos sempre que necessário, disseminando amplamente o conceito de que a classificação pode ser usada efetivamente com novas repetições do processo de enfermagem, refletindo processos circulares, simultâneos e intuitivos; desenvolver uma linguagem de classificação baseada em conceitos de hipótese e percepção; e incluir categorias diagnósticas associadas com perspectivas teóricas. Palavras para busca:Classificações de enfermagem, diagnóstico de enfermagem, teoria de enfermagem Diagnóstico enfermero y teoría enfermera: Exploración de factores que inhiben y apoyan una utilización simultánea PROPÓSITO.Explorar los valores y filosofías de teorías enfermeras, que inhiben la utilización simultánea de diagnósticos y teorías enfermeras. FUENTES.Artículos publicados, libros, capítulos de libros. SÍNTESIS DE LOS DATOS.Cuatro factores reflejados en la práctica y en la bibliografía, pueden haber tenido una influencia negativa en la utilizatión de los diagnósticos de enfermería: (a) compromiso a la singularidad de cada persona, (b) abandono del proceso de enfermería, (c) una perspectiva de que los cuidados de enfermería son una interacción que evoluciona y (d) una creencia de que el lenguaje derivado de la teoría, es más preciso y expresa mejor que las clasificaciones estándar. IMPLICACIONES PARA LA PRÁCTICA.Las estrategias para combinar la teoría y los diagnósticos enfermeros, incluyen: Dar énfasis a los términos diagnósticos como una abreviatura profesional, permitir ser flexible al modificar diagnósticos si es necesario, diseminar ampliamente el concepto de que la clasificación puede usarse eficazmente con nuevas iteraciones del proceso enfermero que reflejen procesos circulares, simultáneos e intuitivos, desarrollar lenguajes de clasificación basados en los conceptos de hipótesis y percepción, Incluir categorías diagnósticas asociadas con perspectivas teóricas. Términos de búsqueda:Diagnósticos enfermeros, clasificaciones enfermeras y teoría enfermera [source]

Preliminary Results with the Simultaneous Use of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators and Permanent Biventricular Pacemakers: Implications for Device Interaction and Development

PACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 3 2000
S. WALKER
We report our preliminary experience with the combined use of implantable cardioverter defibrillutors (ICD) and biventricular pacemakers in six patients with heart failure and malignant ventricular arrhythmia. Two patients underwent ICD implantation for malignant ventricular arrhythmia after previous biventricular pacemaker implantation. One patient underwent biventricular pacemaker insertion for NYHA Class III heart failure after previous ICD implantation. Two patients underwent single device implantation. In the sixth patient, a combined implantation failed due to an inability to obtain a satisfactory left ventricular pacemaker lead position. The potential for device interaction was explored during implantation. In two patients a potentially serious interaction was discovered. Subsequent alterations in device configuration and programming prevented these interactions with long-term use. No complication of combined device use has been demonstrated during a mean follow-up of 2 months (range 1-4 months). Satisfactory ICD and pacemaker function has also been demonstrated. We conclude that combined device implantation may be feasible with currently available pacing technology and that further prospective studies are required in this area. [source]

Simultaneous use of direct and indirect diagnostic techniques in atypical respiratory infections from Chlamydophila pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL LABORATORY ANALYSIS, Issue 4 2009
S. Pignanelli
Abstract In 2008, 50 samples (BAL), coming from hospital patients, with acute respiratory symptoms have been investigated using two real-time PCR methods: one assay for the single detection of Chlamydophila pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae DNA and one commercially available real-time duplex PCR assay for the detection of C. pneumoniae and M. pneumoniae DNA. Both techniques used here showed compliant results, with 100% concordance for detection of C. pneumoniae and 98% for detection of M. pneumoniae. The positive results obtained agreed with the clinical suspicion of such infections in some cases and with the presence of IgM specific for C. pneumoniae and M. pneumoniae in all cases of acute infection. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 23:206,209, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Antisense suppression of tau in cultured rat oligodendrocytes inhibits process formation

JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH, Issue 12 2008
David Gordon
Abstract The microtubule-associated protein tau is integral to neuronal process development and has a role in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative conditions. We examined possible roles for tau in cultured oligodendrocyte process formation by using antisense oligonucleotide treatment. Inhibition of tau synthesis with single oligonucleotides resulted in decreased tau protein levels and significantly shorter cellular processes. Simultaneous use of two nonoverlapping oligonucleotides caused a major reduction in tau levels and severely inhibited process outgrowth. The timing of oligonucleotide addition to oligodendrocyte cultures was important, with addition of antisense at the time of plating into culture having the most significant effect on morphology through reduction of tau expression. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Simultaneous use of bilateral caudal superficial epigastric axial pattern flaps for wound closure in a dog

JOURNAL OF SMALL ANIMAL PRACTICE, Issue 12 2003
P. D. Mayhew
A neutered male German shorthaired pointer sustained severe bite wounds to the left caudal flank and thigh area. Thorough wound lavage and debrldement was performed immediately and also three days after presentation. Daily wound dressing resulted in the production of a mature granulation tissue bed. Prior to wound closure, colour flow Doppler ultrasonography was used to confirm blood flow through the right and left caudal superficial epigastric arteries and veins. Sixteen days after presentation, right and left caudal superficial epigastric axial pattern flaps were simultaneously elevated to cover the defect. The right flap was elevated as an island flap, rotated 120° and used to cover the caudodorsal aspect of the defect. The left flap was elevated and rotated dorsally to cover the cranioventral aspect of the defect. Ninety per cent wound coverage was achieved and flap survival was total. The donor site defect was closed primarily and no dehiscence occurred. Three months postsurgery, the entire defect was closed and limb function was normal. [source]

Simultaneous use of serum IgG and IgM for risk scoring of suspected early Lyme borreliosis: graphical and bivariate analyses

APMIS, Issue 4 2010
RAM B. DESSAU
Dessau RB, Ejlertsen T, Hilden J. Simultaneous use of serum IgG and IgM for risk scoring of suspected early Lyme borreliosis: graphical and bivariate analyses. APMIS 2010; 118: 313,23. The laboratory diagnosis of early disseminated Lyme borreliosis (LB) rests on IgM and IgG antibodies in serum. The purpose of this study was to refine the statistical interpretation of IgM and IgG by combining the diagnostic evidence provided by the two immunoglobulins and exploiting the whole range of the quantitative variation in test values. ELISA assays based on purified flagella antigen were performed on sera from 815 healthy Danish blood donors as negative controls and 117 consecutive patients with confirmed neuroborreliosis (NB). A logistic regression model combining the standardized units of the IgM and IgG ELISA assays was constructed and the resulting disease risks graphically evaluated by receiver operating characteristic and ,predictiveness' curves. The combined model improves the discrimination between NB patients and blood donors. Hence, it is possible to report a predicted risk of disease graded for each individual patient, as is theoretically preferable. The predictiveness curve, when adapted to the local pretest probability of LB, allows high-risk and low-risk thresholds to be defined instead of cut-offs based on the laboratory characteristics only, and it allows the extent of under- and over-treatment to be assessed. It is shown that an example patient with low ELISA results in IgM and IgG, considered negative by the conventional cut-off, has a relatively high risk of belonging to the truly diseased population and a low risk of being false positive. Using a 20% high-risk threshold for advising the clinician to consider treatment, the sensitivity of the assay is increased from 76% to 85%, while the specificity is maintained at around 95%. [source]

Cluster analysis for phasing with molecular replacement: a feasibility study

ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D, Issue 7 2009
Andreas Buehler
Molecular replacement can fail to find a solution, namely a unique orientation and position of a search model, even when many search models are tested under various conditions. Simultaneous use of the results of these searches may help in the solution of such difficult structures. A closeness between the peaks of several calculated rotation functions may identify the model orientation. The largest and most compact cluster of such peaks usually corresponds to models which are oriented similarly to the molecule under study. A search for the optimal translation may be more problematic and both individual translation functions and straightforward cluster analysis in the space of geometric parameters such as rotation angles and translation vectors may give no result. An improvement may be obtained by performing cluster analysis of the peaks of several translation functions in phase-set space. In this case, the Fourier maps computed using the observed structure-factor magnitudes and the phases calculated from differently positioned models are compared. Again, as a rule, the largest and the most compact cluster corresponds to the correct solution. The result of the updated procedure is no longer a single search model but an averaged Fourier map. [source]

Simultaneous use of a levonorgestrel intrauterine system and an etonogestrel subdermal implant for debilitating adolescent endometriosis

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 3 2007
Moamar AL-JEFOUT
Abstract Adolescent familial endometriosis may cause severe and persistent symptoms that are disruptive to lifestyle. Treatment may be difficult in many cases. We describe the novel and successful first use of a simultaneous combination of a levonorgestrel intrauterine system and an etonogestrel subdermal implant in a teenager with severe pain symptoms as a result of laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis, which was refractory to other treatments. [source]

The Liposuction Apparatus "Suspension Device": Hi-Plane Liposculpture

DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 6 2000
Paul Weber MD
Background The improvement of liposuction equipment and techniques has resulted in a cumbersome operating room array of aspirator hoses, irrigation/infiltration tubing, and the insulated command and control wiring of current ultrasonic or power liposuction devices. This situation is further complicated by the presence of a second surgeon, the concomitant use of additional traditional or ultrasonic cannulas, and the suction hose of a second aspirator. Objective To solve the problems of sterility and operating room organization, the authors describe a simple, releasable suspension design. Method This apparatus can be temporarily or permanently installed in minutes and is easily maintained to control numerous sterile hoses and wires required for certain liposuction procedures. Results This suspension method appeared to enhance the efficiency and ease of use by single and dual surgeons during cases utilizing ultrasonic and nonultrasonic cannulas. The time savings and ease of use was most noticeable in cases of dual surgeons using both ultrasonic and nonultrasonic systems simultaneously. In addition, surgical personnel were freed for other tasks. Single-surgeon, traditional liposuction was less notably facilitated in terms of speed and fewer personnel. However, wiring and tubing control is facilitated in any case. Conclusion A simple liposuction suspension system facilitates the liposuction procedure to varying degrees depending upon the number of surgeons and devices in simultaneous use. [source]

Strategic Experimentation with Exponential Bandits

ECONOMETRICA, Issue 1 2005
Godfrey Keller
We analyze a game of strategic experimentation with two-armed bandits whose risky arm might yield payoffs after exponentially distributed random times. Free-riding causes an inefficiently low level of experimentation in any equilibrium where the players use stationary Markovian strategies with beliefs as the state variable. We construct the unique symmetric Markovian equilibrium of the game, followed by various asymmetric ones. There is no equilibrium where all players use simple cut-off strategies. Equilibria where players switch finitely often between experimenting and free-riding all yield a similar pattern of information acquisition, greater efficiency being achieved when the players share the burden of experimentation more equitably. When players switch roles infinitely often, they can acquire an approximately efficient amount of information, but still at an inefficient rate. In terms of aggregate payoffs, all these asymmetric equilibria dominate the symmetric one wherever the latter prescribes simultaneous use of both arms. [source]

Effects of Rapid Broadband Trills on Responses to Song Overlapping in Nightingales

ETHOLOGY, Issue 4 2010
Philipp Sprau
In communication, animals often use complex signals with different traits carrying different information. In the song of some songbirds, both trills and song overlapping signal arousal or the readiness to escalate a contest in male-male interactions, yet they also differ inherently from each other. Song overlapping is restricted to interactions and has a clear directive function as the songs are timed specifically to the songs of a counterpart. Trills, however, can be used without opponents actively singing and do not have such a directional character unless when combined with directed traits. This difference raises the question whether trills can enhance the agonistic function of song overlapping when being used simultaneously. Here, we exposed male nightingales (Luscinia megarhynchos) prior to pairing to overlapping playback treatments differing in the presence or absence of rapid broadband trills. Males responded differently to the two playback treatments suggesting that song overlapping and rapid broadband trills have some synergistic effects. Consequently, the separate or simultaneous use of trills and of song overlapping may allow males to adjust information encoded in their singing on a fine scale. Furthermore, males that remained unpaired throughout the breeding season responded differently to the playbacks than did subsequently paired males, emphasizing the implications of differences in territory defence behaviour on males subsequent pairing success. [source]

Short note: Source geometry identification by simultaneous use of structural index and shape factor

GEOPHYSICAL PROSPECTING, Issue 1 2001
Lopamudra Roy
A cross-plot of the shape factors and the structural indices, determined from gravity anomalies over various idealized sources, namely horizontal/vertical lines and vertical ribbons with various strike lengths and depth extents, forms a closed loop. Different segments of this loop, termed the source geometry identification loop (SGIL), correspond to different source geometries. Combined use of the structural index and the shape factor determined from an isolated gravity anomaly reduces the ambiguity in characterizing the source geometry. A simulated example and three field examples, namely a Cuban chromite anomaly, an Indian example over manganese ore and a sulphide ore from Quebec, have been analysed by the proposed method in order to identify their respective source geometries. [source]

Nursing Diagnosis and Nursing Theory: Exploration of Factors Inhibiting and Supporting Simultaneous Use

Highly Linear-Selective Hydroformylation of 1-Alkenes using Formaldehyde as a Syngas Substitute

ADVANCED SYNTHESIS & CATALYSIS (PREVIOUSLY: JOURNAL FUER PRAKTISCHE CHEMIE), Issue 2-3 2010
Gouki Makado
Abstract A highly linear-selective hydroformylation of 1-alkenes using formaldehyde without the direct use of syngas is described. One rhodium(I) complex catalyzes two processes in the overall hydroformylation of 1-alkenes using formaldehyde as the syngas substitute to give hydroformylated aldehydes with excellent regioselectivities. A high regioselectivity (linear/branched=up to 98/2) and chemical yield (up to 95%) can be achieved by the simultaneous use of two types of phosphanes as ligands. [source]

DEA network computing in multi-stage parallel processes

INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS IN OPERATIONAL RESEARCH, Issue 3 2003
Toshiyuki Sueyoshi
DEA (Data Envelopment Analysis) is a managerial method that has been widely used for performance analysis in various public and private sectors. To deal with large-scale DEA problems, this research proposes the architecture of DEA network computing (LAN: Local Area Network) that is designed to coordinate a simultaneous use of multiple personal computers. An important feature of the proposed DEA computer architecture is that it is computationally structured in multi-stage parallel processes to enhance its algorithmic efficiency. The performance of the proposed network computing approach is tested and examined in a large simulation study. [source]

Evidence for density-dependent survival in adult cormorants from a combined analysis of recoveries and resightings

JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY, Issue 5 2000
Morten Frederiksen
Summary 1.,The increasing population of cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) in Europe since 1970 has led to conflicts with fishery interests. Control of cormorant populations is a management issue in many countries and a predictive population model is needed. However, reliable estimates of survival are lacking as input for such a model 2.,Capture,recapture estimates of survival of dispersive species like cormorants suffer from an unknown bias due to permanent emigration from the study area. However, a combined analysis of resightings and recovery of dead birds allows unbiased estimates of survival and emigration. 3.,We use data on 11 000 cormorants colour-ringed as chicks in the Danish colony Vorsø 1977,97 to estimate adult survival and colony fidelity. Recent statistical models allowing simultaneous use of recovery and resighting data are employed. We compensate for variation in colour-ring quality, and study the effect of population size and winter severity on survival, as well as of breeding success on fidelity by including these factors as covariates in statistical models. 4.,Annual adult survival fluctuated from year to year (0·74,0·95), with a mean of 0·88. A combination of population size in Europe and winter temperatures explained 52,64% of the year-to-year variation in survival. Differences in survival between sexes was less than 1%. Cormorants older than ,,12 years experienced lower survival, whereas second-year birds had survival similar to adults. Colony fidelity declined after 1990 from nearly 1 to ,,0·90, implying 10% permanent emigration per year. This change coincided with a decline in food availability. 5.,Apparently, survival was more severely affected by winter severity when population size was high. This could be caused by saturation of high-quality wintering habitat, forcing some birds to winter in less good habitat where they would be more vulnerable to cold winters. There was thus evidence for density dependence in adult survival, at least in cold winters. 6.,The high population growth rate sustained by European Ph. c. sinensis in the 1970s and 1980s can partly be accounted for by unusually high survival of immature and adult birds, probably caused by absence of hunting, low population density and high food availability. [source]

Multi-scale occupancy estimation and modelling using multiple detection methods

JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, Issue 5 2008
James D. Nichols
Summary 1Occupancy estimation and modelling based on detection,nondetection data provide an effective way of exploring change in a species' distribution across time and space in cases where the species is not always detected with certainty. Today, many monitoring programmes target multiple species, or life stages within a species, requiring the use of multiple detection methods. When multiple methods or devices are used at the same sample sites, animals can be detected by more than one method. 2We develop occupancy models for multiple detection methods that permit simultaneous use of data from all methods for inference about method-specific detection probabilities. Moreover, the approach permits estimation of occupancy at two spatial scales: the larger scale corresponds to species' use of a sample unit, whereas the smaller scale corresponds to presence of the species at the local sample station or site. 3We apply the models to data collected on two different vertebrate species: striped skunks Mephitis mephitis and red salamanders Pseudotriton ruber. For striped skunks, large-scale occupancy estimates were consistent between two sampling seasons. Small-scale occupancy probabilities were slightly lower in the late winter/spring when skunks tend to conserve energy, and movements are limited to males in search of females for breeding. There was strong evidence of method-specific detection probabilities for skunks. As anticipated, large- and small-scale occupancy areas completely overlapped for red salamanders. The analyses provided weak evidence of method-specific detection probabilities for this species. 4Synthesis and applications. Increasingly, many studies are utilizing multiple detection methods at sampling locations. The modelling approach presented here makes efficient use of detections from multiple methods to estimate occupancy probabilities at two spatial scales and to compare detection probabilities associated with different detection methods. The models can be viewed as another variation of Pollock's robust design and may be applicable to a wide variety of scenarios where species occur in an area but are not always near the sampled locations. The estimation approach is likely to be especially useful in multispecies conservation programmes by providing efficient estimates using multiple detection devices and by providing device-specific detection probability estimates for use in survey design. [source]

The role of thyroid hormone on phenylhydrazine hydrochloride mediated inhibitory effects on blood acetylcholinesterase: An in vivo and in vitro study

JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMICAL AND MOLECULAR TOXICOLOGY, Issue 4 2002
Mitali Banerjee
Abstract A novel phenomenon of protective counteraction by thyroid hormone has been demonstrated in phenylhydrazine hydrochloride (PHH) induced insult on blood acetylcholinesterase (AChE, EC 3.1.1.7) activity, in both, in vivo and in vitro conditions. Injection of PHH (20 ,g/g) to juvenile male rats for three consecutive days caused a 48% decrease (p < 0.001) in the total blood AChE activity on the third day (i.e. 24 h after injections for three consecutive days) in comparison to the control animals. Simultaneous injections of thyroxine (T4) 1 or 2 ,g/g with PHH (20 ,g/g) showed a recovery in AChE activity by 27% (p < 0.02) and 55% (p < 0.001), respectively, in comparison to the only PHH-injected animals. T4 at 1, 2 and 4 ,g/g doses showed unchanged levels in comparison to the untreated controls. In our in vitro system, incubations of the RBCs in PHH (2 mM) containing medium also showed an inhibition of 44% (p < 0.001) of the RBC membrane AChE activity in comparison to the control conditions. A recovery of 23,81% of the enzyme activity was observed after simultaneous use of T4 (1 nM,100 nM) or T3 (0.1 nM,100 nM), or triiodothyroacetic acid (TRIAC) (100 nM) with PHH (2 mM) in a dose-dependent manner with a potency profile of T3 > T4 > TRIAC. Incubation of RBCs only with T4, T3, or TRIAC at 0.1,100 nM concentration did not cause any alteration in the membrane AChE activity in comparison to control conditions. Thus, thyroid hormone distinctly demonstrated a counteraction or protective nature of action on the PHH-induced inhibition of total blood and RBC membrane AChE activity. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 16:162,168, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/jbt.10039 [source]

Pulp handling by vertebrate seed dispersers increases palm seed predation by bruchid beetles in the northern Amazon

JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 6 2002
Kirsten M. Silvius
Abstract 1The simultaneous use of fruits and seeds by invertebrate seed predators and vertebrate seed dispersers produces complex ecological interactions that reduce the predictability of seed fate. 2Cocosoid palm seeds in the Neotropics are subject to high mortality by bruchid beetle infestation and such attack is the major cause of mortality for seeds of the palm Attalea maripa at our study site in the northern Brazilian Amazon. 3The exocarp and mesocarp of 1400 fruits were manipulated in different ways to simulate handling by vertebrates. No eggs of the bruchid beetle, Pachymerus cardo, were laid on intact control fruits, while the highest numbers of eggs were received by fruits whose exocarp and mesocarp had been partially removed, as if by primates and rodents (mean of 15.9 and 18.9 eggs fruit,1, respectively, during the peak fruiting season). Fruits with intact mesocarp but no exocarp, and fruits with all mesocarp and exocarp removed, received low numbers of eggs (mean of 4.6 and 6.6 eggs per fruit, respectively, during the peak fruiting season). Thus both exocarp and mesocarp deter oviposition, and removal of these fruit structures increases fruit susceptibility to infestation. 4Oviposition rates declined as the fruiting season progressed, but oviposition preferences remained the same. Seed mortality was high for any fruit on which eggs were laid. 5Large rodents and primates, which have been considered among the most effective seed dispersers for large-seeded Neotropical trees such as palms, actually increased the susceptibility of seeds to bruchid beetle attack. Removal of (intact) seeds by other dispersers may be necessary to ensure seed survival. 6These results indicate that the reliability of seed dispersers cannot be gauged without a complete understanding of variables that affect seed viability. [source]

Uptake of nicotine from suspension culture of Nicotiana tabacum by molecularly imprinted polymers

JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 5 2010
Mohamed Salaheldin A. Abdelkader
Abstract Objectives The aim was to use molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for the selective recovery of nicotine in plant cell cultures. MIPs can selectively uptake nicotine from suspension cultures of N. tabacum, and therefore may be useful for improving levels of secondary metabolites in plant cell cultures. Methods Suspension cultures of N. tabacum were initiated from callus and maintained in liquid Murashige and Skoog (MS) media containing 3% w/v sucrose, 0.1 mg/l ,-naphthaleneacetic acid acid (NAA) and 0.25 mg/l kinetin. Tween 80 at 1% was used for permeabilisation of cell cultures. Pre-weighed XAD-2 and two types of synthesized polymers, MIPs (A and B with one and two functional monomers, respectively) and corresponding non-imprinted polymers (NIPs), A and B, were introduced aseptically into the permeabilised suspension cultures of N. tabacum, the nicotine contents of polymers were determined by gas chromatography and the adsorption yield of polymers were determined. Key findings Cell cultures of N. tabacum accumulated nicotine alkaloid intracellularly in varying levels, 6.8,14.9 mg/l fresh weight. MIPs were able to uptake 50,70% of released nicotine in suspension cultures of N. tabacum, whereas XAD-2 recovered only 30,40%. The total levels of accumulated nicotine were enhanced up to 20 mg/l by simultaneous use of Tween 80 and MIPs. Conclusions The findings indicate the potential use of MIPs to uptake nicotine from suspension cultures of N. tabacum, and increase productivity of secondary metabolites in plant cell cultures. [source]

Maternal use of nicotine replacement therapy during pregnancy and offspring birthweight: a study within the Danish National Birth Cohort

PAEDIATRIC & PERINATAL EPIDEMIOLOGY, Issue 3 2010
Tina H. Lassen
Summary Lassen TH, Madsen M, Skovgaard LT, Strandberg-Larsen K, Olsen J, Andersen A-MN. Maternal use of nicotine replacement therapy during pregnancy and offspring birthweight: a study within the Danish National Birth Cohort. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010; 24: 272,281. Smoking is a well-established risk factor for fetal growth restriction and other adverse pregnancy outcomes, and nicotine may be one of the chemical compounds that drive these associations. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is a smoking cessation aid, which can facilitate smoking cessation. It is, however, unknown whether NRT used during pregnancy impairs fetal growth. The aim of this study was to estimate the association between the use of NRT during pregnancy and offspring birthweight. The study population consisted of 72 761 women enrolled in the Danish National Birth Cohort between 1996 and 2002. Information on NRT and potential confounders was obtained from two computer-assisted telephone interviews conducted in the second and third trimesters, respectively. Multiple linear regression in a multilevel model was used to estimate the association between NRT use and birthweight adjusted for gestational age and potential confounders. The adjusted analyses showed no significant association between the duration of NRT use and birthweight (b = 0.25 g per week of NRT use [95% CI ,2.31, 2.81]) and neither was the type of NRT product (patch, gum, inhaler) associated with reduced birthweight. However, simultaneous use of more than one NRT product was associated with reduced birthweight (b = ,10.73 g per week of NRT use [95% CI ,26.51, 5.05]), although the association was not statistically significant. The results of this study suggest that maternal use of NRT in pregnancy does not seriously affect birthweight, but there could be a negative effect on birthweight associated with simultaneous use of more than one type of NRT product. [source]

Syncope and sinus bradycardia from combined use of thalidomide and , -blocker,

PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY AND DRUG SAFETY, Issue 10 2008
Takashi Yamaguchi MD
Abstract We present a case of a 76-year-old Japanese man with hypertension and multiple myeloma (MM) presented with syncope and sinus bradycardia. Thalidomide therapy for MM was added to longstanding atenolol therapy one month prior to presentation. His heart rate (HR) was around 70 beats per minute (bpm) before addition of Thalidomide. His HR on presentation was less than 30,bpm. He was treated with intravenous atropine followed by temporary pacemaker and taken off atenolol. His HR returned to around 70,bpm few days after discontinuation of atenolol, even though he was still taking thalidomide, permitting outpatient management without a pacemaker. Both thalidomide and atenolol have been reported to cause bradycardia. Neither agent caused bradycardia when used alone in this patient, but simultaneous use caused symptomatic bradycardia. As thalidomide is prescribed more frequently, clinicians should be aware of the possibility of drug-induced sinus bradycardia due to the interaction of thalidomide and , -blockers. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Experimental charge-density study of paracetamol , multipole refinement in the presence of a disordered methyl group

ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION A, Issue 6 2009
Joanna M. B
A high-resolution single-crystal X-ray study of paracetamol has been performed at 85,K. Different approaches to modeling the experimental electron density (ED) were tested for the dynamically disordered portions of the molecule in order to check to what extent it is possible to obtain a proper ED distribution in the ordered part. Models were examined in which the methyl-group ED was built from pseudoatoms taken from the University at Buffalo Pseudoatom Databank or the Invariom database, with multipole parameters for the remaining atoms being obtained from free refinement. The ,, restricted multipolar model (KRMM) and free ,, refinements were compared; restriction of the ,, parameters was essential in order to obtain values of the electrostatic interaction energy consistent with the results of theoretical single-point periodic calculations. After simultaneous use of KRMM refinement and the databases to model the methyl group, the bond critical point properties and interaction electrostatic energy values were found to be closer to those obtained from theory. Additionally, some discrepancies in the ED distribution and dipole moment among transferred aspherical atom model refinements utilizing both theoretical databases and parameters from theoretical periodic calculations are shown. Including the influence of the crystal field in the periodic calculations increases the ED in the hydroxyl and amide groups, thus leading to higher values of the electrostatic interaction energy, changes in the electrostatic potential values mapped on the isodensity surface and changes in the shape of the anisotropic displacement parameters with respect to results found for both database models. [source]

Review of multinomial and multiattribute quality control charts

QUALITY AND RELIABILITY ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL, Issue 7 2009
Elisabeth Topalidou
Abstract Attribute control charts are very useful nowadays for monitoring processes where the quality characteristics cannot be measured in a continuous scale, which may be manufacturing processes from industrial settings, health-care processes or processes from service industries and environments of non-manufacturing quality-improvement efforts. Many of the above cases, however, involve the monitoring of multiple attributes simultaneously, thus leading to the case of multinomial and multiattribute quality control methods, which are better than the simultaneous use of multiple uni-attribute methods. In this study, an attempt to review the research previously conducted on multiattribute quality control is made in order to help the interested researchers and practitioners get informed about the references on the relevant research in this field, regarding the design, performance and applications of multiattribute control charts. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Heteropterys aphrodisiaca Infusion Reduces the Collateral Effects of Cyclosporine A on the Testis

THE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 7 2008
Juliana C. Monteiro
Abstract Cyclosporine A (CsA) is known to have testicular toxicity, leading to male infertility. Stimulant and aphrodisiac properties have been attributed to the plant, Heteropterys aphrodisiaca. Thus, the present work was undertaken to evaluate the association of the drug and the medicinal herb in Wistar rats, applying testicular morphometry and ultrastructure. Twenty-four rats were used, divided into four groups: I, control; II, CsA; III, simultaneous use of CsA and H. aphrodisiaca; IV, H. aphrodisiaca. Daily administration by gavage was carried out, during 56 days, of water (sham), CsA in a dose of 15 mg/kg per day and/or H. aphrodisiaca in a dose of 0.5 ml of the infusion prepared with 25 g of roots/100 ml of boiling water. Increased body weight was observed for all groups, but the animals that received only CsA showed the smallest body weight gain. Morphometry showed increased connective tissue volumetric proportion and decreased Leydig cell volumetric proportion in CsA-treated rats. Using transmission electron microscopy, it was possible to ascertain that CsA caused seminiferous epithelium degeneration, resulting in Sertoli cell vacuolization, abnormal round and elongated spermatids and large accumulation of residual cytoplasm at the epithelium border next to the lumen. Expanded intercellular spaces between germ cells were still observed in H. aphrodisiaca -treated rat testes. The administration of H. aphrodisiaca infusion to CsA-treated rats diminished nearly all the CsA-induced damage to the testis ultrastructure, suggesting that H. aphrodisiaca infusion may be used combined with CsA to reduce CsA-induced injuries in the testis. Anat Rec, 291:809-817, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Osmoprotective Effect of Glycine Betaine on Thrombopoietin Production in Hyperosmotic Chinese Hamster Ovary Cell Culture: Clonal Variations

BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 5 2000
Tae Kyung Kim
When 23 recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (rCHO) cell clones were cultivated in hyperosmolar medium resulting from NaCl addition (533 mOsm/kg), their specific thrombopoietin (TPO) productivity (qTPO) was increased. However, due to depressed cell growth at elevated osmolality, no enhancement in the maximum TPO titer was made in batch cultures of all 23 clones. To test the feasibility of using glycine betaine, known as a strong osmoprotective compound, for improved TPO production in hyperosmotic rCHO cell cultures, hyperosmotic batch cultures of 23 clones were performed in the presence of 15 mM glycine betaine. Glycine betaine was found to have a strong osmoprotective effect on all 23 clones. Inclusion of 15 mM glycine betaine in hyperosmolar medium enabled 22 clones to grow at 542 mOsm/kg, where most clones could not grow in the absence of glycine betaine, but at a cost of reduced qTPO. However, the relative decrease in qTPO varied significantly among clones. Thus, efficacy of the simultaneous use of hyperosmotic pressure and glycine betaine as a means to improve foreign protein production was variable among clones. Six out of 23 clones displayed more than a 40% increase in the maximum TPO titer in the hyperosmolar medium containing glycine betaine, compared with that in the standard medium with a physiological osmolality. Taken together, the results obtained here emphasize the importance of selection of clones for the successful use of hyperosmotic pressure and glycine betaine as an economical means to improve TPO production. [source]

Etanercept combined with methotrexate for high-need psoriasis

BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2008
R.J.B. Driessen
Summary Background, For some high-need psoriatic patients, the efficacy of etanercept monotherapy is insufficient. In these cases it might be indicated to combine etanercept with other conventional treatments. Objectives, To provide daily practice safety and efficacy data for etanercept and methotrexate combination therapy. Methods, Data were extracted from an existing database, which contains prospective safety and efficacy data of all patients who were treated with etanercept in clinical practice. A case was defined as a patient using etanercept and methotrexate simultaneously for an indefinite period during follow-up. For all cases, baseline data, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores, adverse events and laboratory values were investigated. Furthermore, the influence of introduction and discontinuation of methotrexate on these parameters was analysed. Results, Fourteen patients with simultaneous use of etanercept and methotrexate were selected. In six patients, methotrexate was introduced after etanercept to avoid further psoriasis deterioration, which resulted in an improvement of psoriasis in four of these patients. Eight patients were on methotrexate therapy before start of etanercept. Discontinuation of methotrexate in six of these patients resulted in a decrease in PASI improvement in five patients. Etanercept combined with methotrexate was well tolerated, and only mild adverse events were reported. No clinically significant changes in laboratory parameters occurred. Conclusions, Results show that combining etanercept with methotrexate is reasonable when efficacy of etanercept monotherapy is insufficient, or when rapid deterioration of psoriasis after abrupt discontinuation of methotrexate is expected. Laboratory values and adverse events were not different from what would have been expected when using methotrexate alone. [source]

CD40L stimulation enhances the ability of conventional metaphase cytogenetics to detect chromosome aberrations in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cells

BRITISH JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2002
Raymund Buhmann
Summary. Conventional metaphase cytogenetics underestimates the frequency of specific chromosome aberrations in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) as a result of the very low proliferative activity of these cells in vitro. New molecular approaches, such as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) or comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), may circumvent this problem, at least in part, but these techniques are either strongly dependent on the knowledge of candidate regions or detect only unbalanced aberrations. In the present study, we analysed 27 B-CLL peripheral blood samples by metaphase cytogenetics after CD40 ligand (CD40L)-induced cell cycle stimulation. In comparison with the simultaneous use of B-cell mitogens such as 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM), CD40L stimulation of B-CLL cells induced a threefold increase in metaphases amenable to analysis by conventional cytogenetics. The analysis of these metaphases confirmed all genetic abnormalities detected by FISH. Moreover, CD40L-enhanced cytogenetics revealed complex karyotypic aberrations in 11 out of 27 patients (41%). In one case, a balanced translocation t(11;16)(p15;p13.1), so far unreported in B-CLL, was detected. Taken together, the results of our study show the potential of CD40L-enhanced metaphase cytogenetics to detect more and new chromosome aberrations in B-CLL. [source]

Amrubicin, a novel 9-aminoanthracycline, enhances the antitumor activity of chemotherapeutic agents against human cancer cells in vitro and in vivo

CANCER SCIENCE, Issue 3 2007
Mitsuharu Hanada
Amrubicin, a completely synthetic 9-aminoanthracycline derivative, is an active agent in the treatment of untreated extensive disease-small-cell lung cancer and advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Amrubicin administered intravenously at 25 mg/kg substantially prevented the growth of five of six human lung cancer xenografts established in athymic nude mice, confirming that amrubicin as a single agent was active in human lung tumors. To survey which antitumor agent available for clinical use produces a synergistic interaction with amrubicin, we examined the effects in combinations with amrubicinol, an active metabolite of amrubicin, of several chemotherapeutic agents in vitro using five human cancer cell lines using the combination index (CI) method of Chou and Talalay. Synergistic effects were obtained on the simultaneous use of amrubicinol with cisplatin, irinotecan, gefitinib and trastuzumab, with CI values after 3 days of exposure being <1. Additive effect was observed with the combination containing vinorelbine with CI values indistinguishable from 1, while the combination of amrubicinol with gemcitabine was antagonistic. All combinations tested in vivo were well tolerated. The combinations of cisplatin, irinotecan, vinorelbine, trastuzumab, tegafur/uracil, and to a lesser extent, gemcitabine with amrubicin caused significant growth inhibition of human tumor xenografts without pronouncedly enhancing body weight loss, compared with treatment using amrubicin alone at the maximum tolerated dose. Growth inhibition of tumors by gefitinib was not antagonized by amrubicin. These results suggest that amrubicin appears to be a possible candidate for combined use with cisplatin, irinotecan, vinorelbine, gemcitabine, tegafur/uracil or trastuzumab. (Cancer Sci 2007; 98: 447,454) [source]

Methaemoglobinaemia risk factors with inhaled nitric oxide therapy in newborn infants

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 10 2010
I Hamon
Abstract Background:, Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO), commonly used for hypoxic neonates, may react with haemoglobin to form methaemoglobin (MetHb). MetHb monitoring during iNO therapy has been questioned since low doses of iNO are used. Aim:, To evaluate the incidence of and identify risk factors associated with elevated MetHb in neonates treated with iNO. Methods:, Neonates who were treated with iNO and had at least one MetHb measurement were included. Demographic characteristics and methods of iNO administration (dosage, duration) at the time of each MetHb measurement were analysed. Results:, Four hundred and fifty-two MetHb measurements from 81 premature and 82 term and near-term infants were analysed. MetHb was above 5% in one-term infant, and between 2.5,5% in 16 infants. A higher maximum dose of iNO (22.7 vs 17.7 p.p.m.), but not gestational age, was a significant risk factor for elevated MetHb. Significantly higher oxygen levels (75.5% vs 51.7%) were associated with higher MetHb in term infants. Preterm infants had no risk for high MetHb when iNO was kept below 8 p.p.m. These data suggest the possibility of limiting blood withdrawal when low doses iNO are used. Conclusion:, High MetHb is exceptional in neonates treated with low dose iNO. Associated risk factors are related to high iNO dose and the simultaneous use of high concentrations of oxygen. [source]