Screening of trees suited for growth on landfill sites

A field survey was conducted on the completed Gin Drinkers’ Bay (GDB) landfill. Hong Kong, to investigate the causes of adverse tree growth. Ten tree species, belonging to eight families, were transplanted to two sites there. One site had a high concentration of landfill gas in the cover soil (high-gas- site, HQS), while the other had a relatively low concentration of gas (low-gas-site, LGS). Besides gaseous composition, general soil properties in these sites were similar. A strong negative correlation between tree growth and landfill gas concentration was observed. A controlled laboratory simulation study was performed to study the influence of landfill gas on plants. The responses to gas varied greatly among species: some were very sensitive but others were tolerant. Generally, the growth of tap roots was reduced while the horizontal growth of adventitious roots was stimulated. The results indicate that landfill gas does not have acute toxic effects on trees. The excessive quantity of CO(_2) in cover soil limits the depth of the root system. Trees with a shallow root system become very susceptible to water stress. The effects of low O(_2) concentration in soil are less important. Trees suited for growth on sub-tropical completed landfill sites are listed, and their common characteristics are discussed

LANDING WITH A SUPINATED ANKLE JOINT COULD INCITE AN INVERSION SPRAIN INJURY

Ankle sprain injury mechanism has been recently analysed quantitatively. This study further investigated if a supinated ankle joint at landing is an aetiology of the injury. One inversion ankle sprain case from a previous study was selected, and the video sequences of two similar play movements performed by the same athlete without injury were collected and analysed by a model-based image-matching motion analysis method. The ankle joint orientations at the moment of landing in these three cases were compared. Results showed that the ankle joint was in a supination orientation with a combined 14 degrees inversion and 16 degrees plantarflexion at landing, while it was neutral in the inversion/eversion plane and dorsiflexed to 10-21 degrees in the non-injury cases. The supination ankle joint at landing was suggested to be the inciting event of the injury

A GIS Application to Explore Postal Retail Outlet Locations

The use of GIS in solving a wide variety of problems in postal operations is expanding. This approach provides the development and usage of new methods in spatial data analysis, as support in achieving a better quality of the decision-making process. The use of location analysis model based on GIS software is implemented in solving the Belgrade postal retail outlet problem. One of the most important experiences of model implementation is that the local environmental conditions have a significant impact on strategic as well as operational approach. A portion of the material included in the paper has resulted from the Serbian PTT and CPC (Canada Post Corporation) joint project Location Analysis

The Role of Translation Initiation Regulation in Haematopoiesis

Organisation of RNAs into functional subgroups that are translated in response to extrinsic and intrinsic factors underlines a relatively unexplored gene expression modulation that drives cell fate in the same manner as regulation of the transcriptome by transcription factors. Recent studies on the molecular mechanisms of inflammatory responses and haematological disorders indicate clearly that the regulation of mRNA translation at the level of translation initiation, mRNA stability, and protein isoform synthesis is implicated in the tight regulation of gene expression. This paper outlines how these posttranscriptional control mechanisms, including control at the level of translation initiation factors and the role of RNA binding proteins, affect hematopoiesis. The clinical relevance of these mechanisms in haematological disorders indicates clearly the potential therapeutic implications and the need of molecular tools that allow measurement at the level of translational control. Although the importance of miRNAs in translation control is well recognised and studied extensively, this paper will exclude detailed account of this level of control

Algebraic linearizations of matrix polynomials

We show how to construct linearizations of matrix polynomials za(z)d0+c0, a(z)b(z), a(z) +b(z)(when deg (b(z))<deg (a(z))), and za(z)d0b(z) +c0from linearizations of the component parts, a(z)and b(z). This allows the extension to matrix polynomials of a new companion matrix construction.Ministerio de Economía y CompetitividadEuropean Regional Development Fund (ERDF)Part of this work was developed while R.M.Corless was visiting the University of Alcalá, in the frame of the project Giner de los Rios. We acknowledge the support of the Ontario Graduate Institution, the National Science & Engineering Research Council of Canada, the University of Alcalá, the Rotman Institute of Philosophy, the Ontario Research Centre of Computer Algebra, and Western Univ

Circulating human leucine-rich a-2-glycoprotein 1 mRNA and protein levels to detect acute appendicitis in patients with acute abdominal pain

Background Elevated levels of circulating plasma and urine leucine-rich-2-glycoprotein-1 (LRG1) protein has been found in patients with acute appendicitis (AA) and may be useful for diagnosis. This study aimed to investigate whether combined tests including circulating LRG1 mRNA levels improve the early diagnosis of AA. Methods Between December 2011 and October 2012, a prospective study was conducted on patients aged 18 years or older presenting to the ED with acute abdominal pain (< 7 days of symptom onset). Levels of whole blood LRG1 mRNA and plasma LRG1 protein taken from these patients within 24 h of arrival (mean 12.4 h) were analyzed. The primary outcome was AA. Results Eighty-four patients (40 (47.6%) with AA and 44 (52.4%) without AA; mean age 35 years; 41.6% males) were recruited. Median whole blood LRG1 mRNA and plasma LRG1 levels were higher in AA patients than in non-AA. Of 40 AA patients, 13 (32.5%) were diagnosed as complicated AA. In ROC analysis of LRG1 mRNA (normalized to GAPDH), LRG1 protein and Alvarado score for discriminating AA and non-AA, the areas under the curve (AUC) were 0.723, 0.742 and 0.805 respectively. The AUC of combination of normalized LRG1 mRNA, LRG1 protein and Alvarado score was 0.845. Conclusion A combination of modified whole blood LRG1 mRNA levels, plasma LRG1 protein and Alvarado score at the ED may be useful to diagnose simple and complicated AA from other causes of abdominal pain

Ethnic differences translate to inadequacy of high-risk screening for gestational diabetes mellitus in an Asian population: a cohort study

Background: universal and high-risk screening for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been widely studied and debated. Few studies have assessed GDM screening in Asian populations and even fewer have compared Asian ethnic groups in a single multi-ethnic population.Methods: 1136 pregnant women (56.7% Chinese, 25.5% Malay and 17.8% Indian) from the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) birth cohort study were screened for GDM by 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 26–28 weeks of gestation. GDM was defined using the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. High-risk screening is based on the guidelines of the UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.Results: universal screening detected significantly more cases than high-risk screening [crude OR 2.2 (95% CI 1.7-2.8)], particularly for Chinese women [crude OR = 3.5 (95% CI 2.5-5.0)]. Pre-pregnancy BMI &gt; 30 kg/m2 (adjusted OR = 3.4, 95% CI 1.5-7.9) and previous GDM history (adjusted OR = 6.6, 95% CI 1.2-37.3) were associated with increased risk of GDM in Malay women while GDM history was the only significant risk factor for GDM in Chinese women (adjusted OR = 4.7, 95% CI 2.0-11.0).Conclusion: risk factors used in high-risk screening do not sufficiently predict GDM risk and failed to detect half the GDM cases in Asian women. Asian women, particularly Chinese, should be screened to avoid under-diagnosis of GDM and thereby optimize maternal and fetal outcome

Cardiovascular outcomes associated with use of clarithromycin: population based study

Study question What is the association between clarithromycin use and cardiovascular outcomes? Methods In this population based study the authors compared cardiovascular outcomes in adults aged 18 or more receiving oral clarithromycin or amoxicillin during 2005-09 in Hong Kong. Based on age within five years, sex, and calendar year at use, each clarithromycin user was matched to one or two amoxicillin users. The cohort analysis included patients who received clarithromycin (n=108 988) or amoxicillin (n=217 793). The self controlled case series and case crossover analysis included those who received Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment containing clarithromycin. The primary outcome was myocardial infarction. Secondary outcomes were all cause, cardiac, or non-cardiac mortality, arrhythmia, and stroke. Study answer and limitations The propensity score adjusted rate ratio of myocardial infarction 14 days after the start of antibiotic treatment was 3.66 (95% confidence interval 2.82 to 4.76) comparing clarithromycin use (132 events, rate 44.4 per 1000 person years) with amoxicillin use (149 events, 19.2 per 1000 person years), but no long term increased risk was observed. Similarly, rate ratios of secondary outcomes increased significantly only with current use of clarithromycin versus amoxicillin, except for stroke. In the self controlled case analysis, there was an association between current use of H pylori eradication treatment containing clarithromycin and cardiovascular events. The risk returned to baseline after treatment had ended. The case crossover analysis also showed an increased risk of cardiovascular events during current use of H pylori eradication treatment containing clarithromycin. The adjusted absolute risk difference for current use of clarithromycin versus amoxicillin was 1.90 excess myocardial infarction events (95% confidence interval 1.30 to 2.68) per 1000 patients. What this study adds Current use of clarithromycin was associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, and cardiac mortality short term but no association with long term cardiovascular risks among the Hong Kong population

Thermodynamics of Ho\v{r}ava-Lifshitz black holes

We study black holes in the Ho\v{r}ava-Lifshitz gravity with a parameter $\lambda$. For $1/3 \le \lambda < 3$, the black holes behave the Lifshitz black holes with dynamical exponent $0 3$, the black holes behave the Reissner-Nordstr\"om type black hole in asymptotically flat spacetimes. Hence, these all are quite different from the Schwarzschild-AdS black hole of Einstein gravity. The temperature, mass, entropy, and heat capacity are derived for investigating thermodynamic properties of these black holes.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures, v2:substantial improved version to make connection to Lifshitz black holes and Reissner-Norstr\"om type black holes,v3: version to appear in EPJ