237 research outputs found
Stem emissions of monoterpenes, acetaldehyde, and methanol from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) affected by tree water relations and cambial growth
Abstract Tree stems are an overlooked source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Their contribution to ecosystem processes and total VOC fluxes is not well studied, and assessing it requires better understanding of stem emission dynamics and their driving processes. To gain more mechanistic insight into stem emission patterns, we measured monoterpene, methanol, and acetaldehyde emissions from the stems of mature Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris L.) in a boreal forest over three summers. We analysed the effects of temperature, soil water content, tree water status, transpiration, and growth on the VOC emissions, and used generalized linear models to test their relative importance in explaining the emissions. We show that Scots pine stems are considerable sources of monoterpenes, methanol, and acetaldehyde, and their emissions are strongly regulated by temperature. However, even small changes in water availability affected the emission potentials: increased soil water content increased the monoterpene emissions within a day, whereas acetaldehyde and methanol emissions responded within two to four days. This lag corresponded to their transport time in the xylem sap from the roots to the stem. Moreover, the emissions of monoterpenes, methanol, and acetaldehyde were influenced by the cambial growth rate of the stem with six- to ten-day lags. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe
Free energy of colloidal particles at the surface of sessile drops
The influence of finite system size on the free energy of a spherical
particle floating at the surface of a sessile droplet is studied both
analytically and numerically. In the special case that the contact angle at the
substrate equals a capillary analogue of the method of images is
applied in order to calculate small deformations of the droplet shape if an
external force is applied to the particle. The type of boundary conditions for
the droplet shape at the substrate determines the sign of the capillary
monopole associated with the image particle. Therefore, the free energy of the
particle, which is proportional to the interaction energy of the original
particle with its image, can be of either sign, too. The analytic solutions,
given by the Green's function of the capillary equation, are constructed such
that the condition of the forces acting on the droplet being balanced and of
the volume constraint are fulfilled. Besides the known phenomena of attraction
of a particle to a free contact line and repulsion from a pinned one, we
observe a local free energy minimum for the particle being located at the drop
apex or at an intermediate angle, respectively. This peculiarity can be traced
back to a non-monotonic behavior of the Green's function, which reflects the
interplay between the deformations of the droplet shape and the volume
constraint.Comment: 24 pages, 19 figure
Evidences of vortex curvature and anisotropic pinning in superconducting films by quantitative magneto-optics
We present the experimental observation of magnetic field line curvature at
the surface of a superconducting film by local quantitative magneto-optics. In
addition to the knowledge of the full induction field at the superconductor
surface yielding the quantitative observation of the flux line curvature, our
analysis method allows also local value measurements of the electrical current
density inside the sample. Thus, we study the interplay between the
electrodynamic constraints dictated by the film geometry and the pinning
properties of the superconductor. In particular, we investigate the anisotropic
vortex-pinning, due to columnar defects introduced by heavy ion irradiation, as
revealed in the local current density dependence on the vortex curvature during
magnetic flux diffusion inside the superconducting film.Comment: 12 pages, 11 figures, to be submitted to Phys. Rev.
Evaluation of a Web Portal for Improving Public Access to Evidence-Based Health Information and Health Literacy Skills: A Pragmatic Trial
Background: Using the conceptual framework of shared decision-making and evidence-based practice, a web portal was
developed to serve as a generic (non disease-specific) tailored intervention to improve the lay public’s health literacy skills.
Objective: To evaluate the effects of the web portal compared to no intervention in a real-life setting.
Methods: A pragmatic randomised controlled parallel trial using simple randomisation of 96 parents who had children aged
,4 years. Parents were allocated to receive either access to the portal or no intervention, and assigned three tasks to
perform over a three-week period. These included a searching task, a critical appraisal task, and reporting on perceptions
about participation. Data were collected from March through June 2011.
Results: Use of the web portal was found to improve attitudes towards searching for health information. This variable was
identified as the most important predictor of intention to search in both samples. Participants considered the web portal to
have good usability, usefulness, and credibility. The intervention group showed slight increases in the use of evidencebased
information, critical appraisal skills, and participation compared to the group receiving no intervention, but these
differences were not statistically significant.
Conclusion: Despite the fact that the study was underpowered, we found that the web portal may have a positive effect on
attitudes towards searching for health information. Furthermore, participants considered the web portal to be a relevant
tool. It is important to continue experimenting with web-based resources in order to increase user participation in health
care decision-making.
Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT0126679
Collagen I but not Matrigel matrices provide an MMP-dependent barrier to ovarian cancer cell penetration
Abstract
Background
The invasive potential of cancer cells is usually assessed in vitro using Matrigel as a surrogate basement membrane. Yet cancer cell interaction with collagen I matrices is critical, particularly for the peritoneal metastatic route undertaken by several cancer types including ovarian. Matrix metalloprotease (MMP) activity is important to enable cells to overcome the barrier constraints imposed by basement membranes and stromal matrices in vivo. Our objective was to compare matrices reconstituted from collagen I and Matrigel as representative barriers for ovarian cancer cell invasion.
Methods
The requirement of MMP activity for ovarian cancer cell penetration of Matrigel and collagen matrices was assessed in 2D transwell and 3D spheroid culture systems.
Results
The broad range MMP inhibitor GM6001 completely prevented cell perforation of polymerised collagen I-coated transwell membranes. In contrast, GM6001 decreased ES-2 cell penetration of Matrigel by only ~30% and had no effect on HEY cell Matrigel penetration. In 3D culture, ovarian cancer cells grown as spheroids also migrated into surrounding Matrigel matrices despite MMP blockade. In contrast, MMP activity was required for invasion into 3D matrices of collagen I reconstituted from acid-soluble rat-tail collagen I, but not from pepsin-extracted collagen I (Vitrogen/Purecol), which lacks telopeptide regions.
Conclusion
Matrigel does not form representative barriers to ovarian cancer cells in either 2D or 3D culture systems. Our findings support the use of collagen I rather than Matrigel as a matrix barrier for invasion studies to better approximate critical interactions and events associated with peritoneal metastasis
Brain death and postmortem organ donation: Report of a questionnaire from the CENTER-TBI study
Background: We aimed to investigate the extent of the agreement on practices around brain death and postmortem organ donation. Methods: Investigators from 67 Collaborative European NeuroTrauma Effectiveness Research in Traumatic Brain Injury (CENTER-TBI) study centers completed several questionnaires (response rate: 99%). Results: Regarding practices around brain death, we found agreement on the clinical evaluation (prerequisites and neurological assessment) for brain death determination (BDD) in 100% of the centers. However, ancillary tests were required for BDD in 64% of the centers. BDD for nondonor patients was deemed mandatory in 18% of the centers before withdrawing life-sustaining measures (LSM). Also, practices around postmortem organ donation varied. Organ donation after circulatory arrest was forbidden in 45% of the centers. When withdrawal of LSM was contemplated, in 67% of centers the patients with a ventricular drain in situ had this removed, either sometimes or all of the time. Conclusions: This study showed both agreement and some regional differences regarding practices around brain death and postmortem organ donation. We hope our results help quantify and understand potential differences, and provide impetus for current dialogs toward further harmonization of practices around brain death and postmortem organ donation
Casemix, management, and mortality of patients receiving emergency neurosurgery for traumatic brain injury in the Global Neurotrauma Outcomes Study: a prospective observational cohort study
Targeting PBK/TOPK decreases growth and survival of glioma initiating cells in vitro and attenuates tumor growth in vivo
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