Effects of tidal elevation on the recruitment and survival of Balanus and Chthamalus

Balanus and Chthamalus species of barnacles are sessile arthropods native and abundant in the intertidal zone along the California coast. Due to environmental and physiological factors, barnacles have variable survivability at different tidal elevations. Urosalpinx cinerea, the Atlantic oyster drill, is an invasive species whose predation patterns can manipulate the zonation of native populations causing substantial local impacts. The effects of tidal elevation on Ostrea lurida (the Olympia oyster) predation by drills is a well-studied example. Drills killed about 60% of adult oysters at +7.0cm MLLW within 2 months while oysters at +37cm were not preyed upon (Kiriakopolos et al. 2014). Although they are not of conservation concern, barnacles are the preferred prey of drills and hold a utility in studying the patterns of drill predation based on tidal elevation. Barnacles and O. lurida have similar life history characteristics: they share a common predator, both are intertidal inhabitants that begin as free swimming a larvae and mature into sessile adults, both are filter feeders, and both have a somewhat similar breeding season. Our short-term barnacle recruitment data provides insight to possible predator-influenced presettlement behaviors whereas our survival data sheds light on post-settlement mortality patterns based on tidal elevation that may be related to drill zonation. The results of this experiment may provide insight to the ecological pressures experienced by O. lurida while raising additional questions regarding restoration efforts

Activity of opioid ligands in cells expressing cloned mu opioid receptors

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to describe the activity of a set of opioid drugs, including partial agonists, in a cell system expressing only mu opioid receptors. Receptor activation was assessed by measuring the inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cyclic adenosine mono phosphate (cAMP) production. Efficacies and potencies of these ligands were determined relative to the endogenous ligand β-endorphin and the common mu agonist, morphine. RESULTS: Among the ligands studied naltrexone, WIN 44,441 and SKF 10047, were classified as antagonists, while the remaining ligands were agonists. Agonist efficacy was assessed by determining the extent of inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cAMP production. The rank order of efficacy of the agonists was fentanyl = hydromorphone = β-endorphin > etorphine = lofentanil = butorphanol = morphine = nalbuphine = nalorphine > cyclazocine = dezocine = metazocine ≥ xorphanol. The rank order of potency of these ligands was different from that of their efficacies; etorphine > hydromorphone > dezocine > xorphanol = nalorphine = butorphanol = lofentanil > metazocine > nalbuphine > cyclazocine > fentanyl > morphine >>>> β-endorphin. CONCLUSION: These results elucidate the relative activities of a set of opioid ligands at mu opioid receptor and can serve as the initial step in a systematic study leading to understanding of the mode of action of opioid ligands at this receptor. Furthermore, these results can assist in understanding the physiological effect of many opioid ligands acting through mu opioid receptors

Activation profiles of opioid ligands in HEK cells expressing δ opioid receptors

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to characterize the activation profiles of 15 opioid ligands in transfected human embryonic kidney cells expressing only δ opioid receptors. Activation profiles of most of these ligands at δ opioid receptors had not been previously characterized in vitro. Receptor activation was assessed by measuring the inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cAMP production. RESULTS: Naltrexone and nalorphine were classified as antagonists at δ opioid receptor. The other ligands studied were agonists at δ opioid receptors and demonstrated IC(50 )values of 0.1 nM to 2 μM, maximal inhibition of 39–77% and receptor binding affinities of 0.5 to 243 nM. The rank order of efficacy of the ligands tested was metazocine = xorphanol ≥ fentanyl = SKF 10047 = etorphine = hydromorphone = butorphanol = lofentanil > WIN 44,441 = Nalbuphine = cyclazocine ≥ met-enkephalin >> morphine = dezocine. For the first time these data describe and compare the function and relative efficacy of several ligands at δ opioid receptors. CONCLUSIONS: The data produced from this study can lead to elucidation of the complete activation profiles of several opioid ligands, leading to clarification of the mechanisms involved in physiological effects of these ligands at δ opioid receptors. Furthermore, these data can be used as a basis for novel use of existing opioid ligands based on their pharmacology at δ opioid receptors

Experimental and numerical modelling of buried pipelines crossing reverse faults

Fault rupture is one of the main hazards for continuous buried pipelines and the problem is often investigated experimentally and numerically. While experimental data exists for pipeline crossing strike-slip and normal fault, limited experimental work is available for pipeline crossing reverse faults. This paper presents results from a series of tests investigating the behaviour of continuous buried pipeline subjected to reverse fault motion. A new experimental setup for physical modelling of pipeline crossing reverse fault is developed and described. Scaling laws and non-dimensional groups are derived and subsequently used to analyse the test results. Three-dimensional Finite Element (3D FE) analysis is also carried out using ABAQUS to investigate the pipeline response to reverse faults and to simulate the experiments. Finally, practical implications of the study are discussed

Mechanical and radiation attenuation properties of conventional and heavy concrete with diverse aggregate and water/cement ratios

Ovim istraživanjem predstavljaju se rezultati sveobuhvatnog laboratorijskog rada kojemu je cilj ispitati mehanička svojstva i svojstva smanjenja zračenja teških betona u kojima se kao agregat koristio pirit, krom i magnetit te betona normalne težine koji su se proizveli s tri različita vodocementna omjera (v/c = 0,4/0,5/0,6). U laboratoriju su provedena ispitivanja tlačne čvrstoće, brzine prolaska ultrazvuka, eksperimentalni modul elastičnosti te koeficijenta prigušenja mase tih betona. Na temelju provedenih ispitivanja utvrđeno je da betoni normalne težine i teški betoni imaju slično ponašanje u smislu tlačne čvrstoće i modula elastičnosti. U slučaju teških betona (njihovi v/c omjeri povećani su uslijed konstantne količine vode te smanjene količine cementa), gustoća se povećava zbog povećanja količine agregata veće gustoće u odnosu na cement u sastavu betona. To je razlog zašto teški betoni koji su proizvedeni s većim v/c omjerom te koji su manje čvrstoće mogu apsorbirati više rendgenskih zraka. Koeficijenti prigušenja mase konvergiraju pri visokim energetskim razinama kod teških i normalnih betona različitih gustoća.This paper presents the results of comprehensive laboratory work conducted for investigating the mechanical and radiation attenuation characteristics of heavyweight concrete produced with pyrite, chromium, and magnetite aggregates and normal weight concretes produced with three different water/ cement (w/c) ratios. Various experiments were conducted to determine the compressive strengths, ultrasound transmission velocities, experimental elasticity modules, and mass attenuation coefficients of these concretes. Heavy and normal weight concretes exhibited similar behaviour in terms of compressive strength and elasticity modules. In heavyweight concretes, with increased w/c ratios (by keeping the amount of water constant and decreasing the amount of cement), the corresponding density increased due to the increase in the amount of high-density aggregates rather than cement in the composition of concrete. Thus, heavyweight concretes produced with a high w/c ratio and low strength can absorb more X-rays. Mass attenuation coefficients converge in heavy and normal weight concretes with different densities at high energy levels

3D model evolution of a leak based on GPR image interpretations

This paper presents some aspects of the time propagation of underground water leakage in controlled laboratory conditions using a drilled polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe and interpreting ground penetrating radar (GPR) images. GPR pre-processed images are interpreted for easy identification and extraction of surfaces and volumes of water leakage. Finally, the temporal evolution of a water leak is shown using 3D models based on interpretation of GPR images. Water volumes obtained using this approach can be easily observed by personnel who lack highly specialized training in the analysis of raw data. The results of this study are promising and can help develop techniques to validate non-destructive models for the identification, distribution, and prediction of water leaks in water supply systems using GPR.Part of this work has been developed under the support of an FPI (Formacion de Personal Investigador)-UPV (Universitat Politecnica de Valencia) scholarship granted to the second author by the Programa de Ayudas de Investigacion y Desarrollo (PAID) of the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, and the support of Fundacion Carolina PhD, within its short stances scholarship program for the first author. The use of English in this paper has been revised by John Rawlins.Ocana-Levario, S.; Ayala Cabrera, D.; Izquierdo Sebastián, J.; Pérez García, R. (2015). 3D model evolution of a leak based on GPR image interpretations. Water Science and Technology: Water Supply. 15(6):1312-1319. doi:10.2166/ws.2015.093S1312131915

Sexual functions and prolactin levels in patients with bipolar disorder

Objective: Mood stabilizers and antipsychotic drugs are known to have adverse effects on sexual function. However, patients often refrain from speaking about sexual complaints that may cause dose reduction and discontinuation of the drug without medical supervision. In this study we aimed to evaluate sexual functions of patients with bipolar disorder in remission period, considering prolactin levels and medications. Method: We recruited 52 patients with bipolar disorder in remission according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. Prolactin levels were measured in all patients. The Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS) was used to assess sexual dysfunction. Results: Mean prolactin levels were 24.71 ± 4.25 and 19.96 ± 5.52 ng/ml respectively for females and males. Patients taking mood stabilizer (MS) and mood stabilizer plus antipsychotic (AP) treatment had different prolactin levels (p<0.001). Total GRISS scores were not different for MS and MS+AP treatment groups. We didn't find a correlation between Total GRISS scores and prolactin levels. There was a significant deterioration in female non-sensuality, female dissatisfaction and anorgasmia subscales of female patients and significant deterioration in premature ejaculation, impotence and male dissatisfaction subscales of male patients. Discussion: In our sample, both men and women patients with bipolar disorder in remission have sexual dysfunctions. Our results suggest that prolactin levels are not sufficient to demonstrate the sexual dysfunction. To enhance patient compliance it is necessary to focus more on sexual symptoms of patients receiving MS and AP treatment