Binding potency of peptide fragments of type 1 collagen cross-linked N-telopeptide measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay

Osteoporosis represents a major healthcare problem affecting elderly person. Urinary level of the cross-linked N-telopeptide of type I collagen is a sensitive marker of bone resorption. Ten overlapping peptides covering the N-telopeptide of alpha-2 type I collagen were synthesized, purified, and assayed for their relative binding response to anti-type I collagen cross-linked N-telopeptide (NTX) antibody by using a competitive-inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Peptides 1, 2, and 3, containing the N-terminal sequence of N-telopeptide, showed higher binding potency than peptides 4-10, suggesting that these peptides may contain binding sites for anti-NTX antibodies, and can serve as the lead for further preparation of their antibodies in order to develop novel bioassays for monitoring the bone loss in humans

Identification of the origin of salinization in groundwater using multivariate statistical analysis and geochemical modeling: a case study of Kaohsiung, Southwest Taiwan

The study of brine aquifers in southern Taiwan is highly complicated by hybrid geochemical reactions, which obscure important geochemical information. Using multivariate analysis on major and minor ion compositions normalized by Cl(-) content, chemical constituents were combined into two principal components representing brine mixing and mineral precipitation. Comparing to multivariate analysis on the original data, this procedure reveals more geochemical information. It demonstrates that the brine groundwater of the region is primarily composed of highly evaporated seawater. The evaporation ratio is > 70%; a point at which calcite, dolomite and gypsum precipitate. Oxygen and hydrogen isotopic compositions confirm this inference; and further, geochemical modeling quantitatively determined the evaporation ratio to be about 85%. Natural boron contamination is a consequence of brine groundwater. Two evolutionary trends in the plotting of the Cl/B ratio versus Cl(-) can be identified: (1) Cl/B ratio decreases with boron being released from clay minerals when brine aquifers are flushed with freshwater; and (2) Cl/B ratio increases when seawater of a high Cl/B ratio infiltrates coastal aquifers

Use of geochemical modeling to evaluate the hydraulic connection of aquifers: a case study from Chianan Plain, Taiwan

Aquifers are generally composed of highly permeable layers that can conduct a considerable amount of groundwater. Traditionally, aquifer units are correlated through the concept of lithostratigraphy. For low-permeable aquifers, it is difficult to define the spatial distribution of hydrogeological units, and this study attempts to use geochemical modeling to identify the groundwater flow paths in an area of Taiwan. Multiple geochemical analyses, including groundwater chemistry; stable isotopic compositions of hydrogen, oxygen and carbon; and radiocarbon contents were performed. Using these parameters as the constraints of geochemical models, the hydraulic connection was examined between pairs of possibly interlinked wells along four selected cross sections, and the conceptual groundwater model was accordingly established. The resultant model suggests that the hydraulic connection between aquifers should be correlated with the concept of chronological stratigraphy, especially for low-permeable, unconsolidated aquifers. Using Darcy's law, the hydraulic conductivities of the fine-sand aquifers were estimated to be between 3.14x10(-5) and 1.80x(-4) m/s, which are roughly one order of magnitude higher than those derived by in situ pumping tests. The substantial extraction of groundwater over a long period in the studied area could accelerate groundwater flow, leading to an overestimation of the aquifer permeability

Spinal glutamatergic NMDA-dependent pelvic nerve-to-external urethra sphincter reflex potentiation caused by a mechanical stimulation in anesthetized rats

The current study investigates whether the spinal pelvic nerve-to-external urethra sphincter (EUS) reflex potentiation can be induced by a mechanical stimulation and whether the glutamatergic mechanism is involved in yielding such a reflex potentiation. The external urethra sphincter electromyogram (EUSE) activity, evoked by a single or by repetitive pelvic nerve stimulation, in 30 anesthetized rats was recorded with/without bladder saline distension. Without saline distension (0 cmH(2)O), a single pulse nerve stimulation evoked a single action potential in the reflex activity, whereas repetitive pelvic stimulation and saline distension (6 similar to 20 cmH(2)O) both elicited a long-lasting reflex potentiation (20.05 +/- 3.21 and 75.01 +/- 9.87 spikes/stimulation, respectively). The saline distension-induced pelvic nerve-to-EUS reflex potentiation was abolished by D-2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate [APV; a glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartic acid ( NMDA) receptor antagonist; 100 mu M, 10 mu l, 1.72 +/- 0.31 spikes/stimulation] and attenuated by 2,3-dihydroxy-6-nitro-7-sulfamoylbenzo ( F) quinoxaline [ NBQX; a glutamatergic alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4- isoxazoleproprionate ( AMPA) receptor antagonist; 100 mu M, 10 mu l, 26.16 +/- 7.27 spikes/stimulation], but was not affected by bicuculline (a GABAergic antagonist; 100 mu M, 10 mu l, 53.62 +/- 15.54 spikes/stimulation). Intrathecal administration of glutamate (31.12 +/- 8.25 spikes/stimulation, 100 mu M, 10 mu l) and NMDA (26.25 +/- 4.12 spikes/stimulation, 100 mu M, 10 mu l) both induced a long-lasting pelvic nerve-to-EUS reflex potentiation without saline distension, which was similar to the findings observed from saline distension only. The duration of the contraction wave of the urethra was elongated by the saline distension-induced pelvic nerve-to-EUS reflex potentiation, whereas the peak pressure of the contraction wave was not affected. Our findings suggest that saline distension in the bladder elicits a pelvic nerve-to-EUS reflex potentiation and the glutamatergic mechanism contributes to the presence of such a reflex potentiation

An exploration of core competences of newly qualified nurses: a case study

[[abstract]]The health care system is undergoing rapid change. Given the ever changing healthcare environment the responsibilities, competencies and skills expectations of new nurses is escalating. Therefore, there is need for a deeper and more systematic assessment of the competences affect on core competence of nurses. With this background, this paper attempts to identify and analyze the core competence for nurses. Thus, a DEMATEL method is applied. The DEMATEL not only can convert the relations between cause and effect of criteria into a visual structural model, but can also be used as a way to identify the key factors. The DEMATEL can be used as an effective method to handle the inner dependences within a set of criteria. Results show that the Personal feature Perspective is the causal dimension for the evaluation of core competences. This paper draws on the research results for managerial practice implications.[[journaltype]]國外[[incitationindex]]SSCI[[ispeerreviewed]]Y[[booktype]]電子版[[countrycodes]]NL