158 research outputs found
Mold and Endotoxin Levels in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina: A Pilot Project of Homes in New Orleans Undergoing Renovation
BACKGROUND: After Hurricane Katrina, many New Orleans homes remained flooded for weeks, promoting heavy microbial growth. OBJECTIVES: A small demonstration project was conducted November 2005βJanuary 2006 aiming to recommend safe remediation techniques and safe levels of worker protection, and to characterize airborne mold and endotoxin throughout cleanup. METHODS: Three houses with floodwater lines between 0.3 and 2 m underwent intervention, including disposal of damaged furnishings and drywall, cleaning surfaces, drying remaining structure, and treatment with a biostatic agent. We measured indoor and outdoor bioaerosols before, during, and after intervention. Samples were analyzed for fungi [culture, spore analysis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)] and endotoxin. In one house, real-time particle counts were also assessed, and respirator-efficiency testing was performed to establish workplace protection factors (WPF). RESULTS: At baseline, culturable mold ranged from 22,000 to 515,000 colony-forming units/m(3), spore counts ranged from 82,000 to 630,000 spores/m(3), and endotoxin ranged from 17 to 139 endotoxin units/m(3). Culture, spore analysis, and PCR indicated that Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Paecilomyces predominated. After intervention, levels of mold and endotoxin were generally lower (sometimes, orders of magnitude). The average WPF against fungal spores for elastomeric respirators was higher than for the N-95 respirators. CONCLUSIONS: During baseline and intervention, mold and endotoxin levels were similar to those found in agricultural environments. We strongly recommend that those entering, cleaning, and repairing flood-damaged homes wear respirators at least as protective as elastomeric respirators. Recommendations based on this demonstration will benefit those involved in the current cleanup activities and will inform efforts to respond to future disasters
Growth Dynamics of Australia's Polar Dinosaurs
Analysis of bone microstructure in ornithopod and theropod dinosaurs from Victoria, Australia, documents ontogenetic changes, providing insight into the dinosaurs' successful habitation of Cretaceous Antarctic environments. Woven-fibered bone tissue in the smallest specimens indicates rapid growth rates during early ontogeny. Later ontogeny is marked by parallel-fibered tissue, suggesting reduced growth rates approaching skeletal maturity. Bone microstructure similarities between the ornithopods and theropods, including the presence of LAGs in each group, suggest there is no osteohistologic evidence supporting the hypothesis that polar theropods hibernated seasonally. Results instead suggest high-latitude dinosaurs had growth trajectories similar to their lower-latitude relatives and thus, rapid early ontogenetic growth and the cyclical suspensions of growth inherent in the theropod and ornithopod lineages enabled them to successfully exploit polar regions
ΠΠΌΠΈΡΠ°ΡΠΈΡ ΡΠ°ΡΠΏΡΠ΅Π΄Π΅Π»Π΅Π½Π½ΠΎΠΉ ΠΎΠ±ΡΠ°Π±ΠΎΡΠΊΠΈ ΠΈΠ½ΡΠΎΡΠΌΠ°ΡΠΈΠΈ Π² Π²ΡΡΠΈΡΠ»ΠΈΡΠ΅Π»ΡΠ½ΡΡ ΡΠΈΡΡΠ΅ΠΌΠ°Ρ ΠΈ Π»ΠΎΠΊΠ°Π»ΡΠ½ΡΡ Π²ΡΡΠΈΡΠ»ΠΈΡΠ΅Π»ΡΠ½ΡΡ ΡΠ΅ΡΡΡ
ΠΡΠ΅Π΄Π»ΠΎΠΆΠ΅Π½ΠΎ ΠΈΡΠΏΠΎΠ»ΡΠ·ΠΎΠ²Π°ΡΡ Π΄Π»Ρ Π°Π½Π°Π»ΠΈΠ·Π° Π²Π°ΡΠΈΠ°Π½ΡΠΎΠ² ΠΎΡΠ³Π°Π½ΠΈΠ·Π°ΡΠΈΠΈ ΡΠ°ΡΠΏΡΠ΅Π΄Π΅Π»Π΅Π½Π½ΠΎΠΉ ΠΎΠ±ΡΠ°Π±ΠΎΡΠΊΠΈ ΠΈΠ½ΡΠΎΡΠΌΠ°ΡΠΈΠΈ Π² Π²ΡΡΠΈΡΠ»ΠΈΡΠ΅Π»ΡΠ½ΡΡ
ΡΠΈΡΡΠ΅ΠΌΠ°Ρ
ΠΈ Π»ΠΎΠΊΠ°Π»ΡΠ½ΡΡ
Π²ΡΡΠΈΡΠ»ΠΈΡΠ΅Π»ΡΠ½ΡΡ
ΡΠ΅ΡΡΡ
Π²Π΅ΡΠΎΡΡΠ½ΠΎΡΡΠ½ΡΠΉ Π³ΡΠ°Ρ ΡΠ΅Π°Π»ΠΈΠ·Π°ΡΠΈΠΈ Π²ΡΡΠΈΡΠ»ΠΈΡΠ΅Π»ΡΠ½ΠΎΠ³ΠΎ ΠΏΡΠΎΡΠ΅ΡΡΠ° Ρ ΡΠ²Π½ΡΠΌΠΈ ΡΠ²ΡΠ·ΡΠΌΠΈ ΡΠΈΠΏΠ° Π²Π΅ΡΠΎΡΡΠ½ΠΎΡΡΠ½ΡΡ
ΡΠ΅ΡΠ΅Π²ΡΡ
Π³ΡΠ°ΡΠΈΠΊΠΎΠ².ΠΠ°ΠΏΡΠΎΠΏΠΎΠ½ΠΎΠ²Π°Π½ΠΎ Π²ΠΈΠΊΠΎΡΠΈΡΡΠΎΠ²ΡΠ²Π°ΡΠΈ Π΄Π»Ρ Π°Π½Π°Π»ΡΠ·Ρ Π²Π°ΡΡΠ°Π½ΡΡΠ² ΠΎΡΠ³Π°Π½ΡΠ·Π°ΡΡΡ ΡΠΎΠ·ΠΏΠΎΠ΄ΡΠ»Π΅Π½ΠΎΡ ΠΎΠ±ΡΠΎΠ±ΠΊΠΈ ΡΠ½ΡΠΎΡΠΌΠ°ΡΡΡ Π² ΠΎΠ±ΡΠΈΡΠ»ΡΠ²Π°Π»ΡΠ½ΠΈΡ
ΡΠΈΡΡΠ΅ΠΌΠ°Ρ
Ρ Π² Π»ΠΎΠΊΠ°Π»ΡΠ½ΠΈΡ
ΠΎΠ±ΡΠΈΡΠ»ΡΠ²Π°Π»ΡΠ½ΠΈΡ
ΠΌΠ΅ΡΠ΅ΠΆΠ°Ρ
ΡΠΌΠΎΠ²ΡΡΠ½ΡΡΠ½ΠΈΠΉ Π³ΡΠ°Ρ ΡΠ΅Π°Π»ΡΠ·Π°ΡΡΡ ΠΎΠ±ΡΠΈΡΠ»ΡΠ²Π°Π»ΡΠ½ΠΎΠ³ΠΎ ΠΏΡΠΎΡΠ΅ΡΡ Π· ΡΠ²Π½ΠΈΠΌΠΈ Π·Π²βΡΠ·ΠΊΠ°ΠΌΠΈ ΡΠΈΠΏΡ ΡΠΌΠΎΠ²ΡΡΠ½ΡΡΠ½ΠΈΡ
ΡΡΡΠΊΠΎΠ²ΠΈΡ
Π³ΡΠ°ΡΡΠΊΡΠ².It Ρs ΠΎffered to use for analyzing variants of organization of distributed information processing in computing systems and local computing networks a probabilistic graph for realizing a computing process with evident relationships of the type probabilistic network diagrams
Stress-induced decreases in local cerebral glucose utilization in specific regions of the mouse brain
BACKGROUND: Restraint stress in rodents has been reported to activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis and to increase c-fos expression in regions that express components of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) system. We have previously reported that acute central administration of CRF increased a measure of relative local cerebral glucose utilization (LCGU), a measure of neuronal activity in specific brain regions, and activated the HPA axis in mice. It was hypothesized that the involvement of the CRF system in the stress response would lead to similar changes in relative LCGU after restraint stress. In the present studies the effect of restraint stress on relative LCGU and on the HPA axis in C57BL/6N mice were examined. FINDINGS: Restraint stress activated the HPA axis in a restraint-duration dependent manner, but in contrast to the reported effects of CRF, significantly decreased relative LCGU in frontal cortical, thalamic, hippocampal and temporal dissected regions. These findings support evidence that stressors enforcing limited physical activity reduce relative LCGU, in contrast to high activity stressors such as swim stress. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the present studies do not support the hypothesis that stress-induced changes in relative LCGU are largely mediated by the CRF system. Further studies will help to delineate the role of the CRF system in the early phases of the relative LCGU response to stress and investigate the role of other neurotransmitter systems in this response
Methylphenidate significantly improves declarative memory functioning of adults with ADHD
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87790.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)BACKGROUND: Declarative memory deficits are common in untreated adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but limited evidence exists to support improvement after treatment with methylphenidate. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of methylphenidate on memory functioning of adults with ADHD. METHODS: Eighteen adults with ADHD who were clinical responders to methylphenidate participated in this randomized crossover trial. After 3 days of no treatment, patients received in random order either their usual methylphenidate dose (mean: 14.7 mg; range: 10-30 mg) or placebo, separated by a 6-7-day washout period. Patients performed an immediate word recall test 1 h after treatment administration. Three hours after intake, patients performed the second part of the memory test (delayed word recall and a recognition test). RESULTS: Delayed recognition and immediate recall was similar on treatment and on placebo. Delayed word recall was significantly better in the methylphenidate than in the placebo condition (F (1, 17) = 7.0, p < 0.017). A significant correlation was found between prestudy CES-D depression scores and difference scores on delayed recall (r = 0.602, p < 0.008). CONCLUSION: Methylphenidate improves declarative memory functioning in patients with ADHD. New studies should further examine whether subclinical depressive symptoms mediate the effect of methylphenidate on declarative memory.1 oktober 201
Trackways Produced by Lungfish During Terrestrial Locomotion
Some primarily aquatic vertebrates make brief forays onto land, creating traces as they do. A lack of studies on aquatic trackmakers raises the possibility that such traces may be ignored or misidentified in the fossil record. Several terrestrial Actinopterygian and Sarcopterygian species have previously been proposed as possible models for ancestral tetrapod locomotion, despite extant fishes being quite distinct from Devonian fishes, both morphologically and phylogenetically. Although locomotion has been well-studied in some of these taxa, trackway production has not. We recorded terrestrial locomotion of a 35 cm African lungfish (Protopterus annectens; Dipnoi: Sarcopterygii) on compliant sediment. Terrestrial movement in the lungfish is accomplished by planting the head and then pivoting the trunk. Impressions are formed where the head impacts the substrate, while the body and fins produce few traces. The head leaves a series of alternating left-right impressions, where each impact can appear as two separate semi-circular impressions created by the upper and lower jaws, bearing some similarity to fossil traces interpreted as footprints. Further studies of trackways of extant terrestrial fishes are necessary to understand the behavioural repertoire that may be represented in the fossil track record
Impact of physical activity level and dietary fat content on passive overconsumption of energy in non-obese adults
Background: Passive overconsumption is the increase in energy intake driven by the high-fat energy-dense food environment. This can be explained in part because dietary fat has a weaker effect on satiation (i.e. process that terminates feeding). Habitually active individuals show improved satiety (i.e. process involved in post-meal suppression of hunger) but any improvement in satiation is unknown. Here we examined whether habitual physical activity mitigates passive overconsumption through enhanced satiation in response to a high-fat meal. Methods: Twenty-one non-obese individuals with high levels of physical activity (HiPA) and 19 individuals with low levels of physical activity (LoPA) matched for body mass index (meanβ=β22.8 kg/m2) were recruited. Passive overconsumption was assessed by comparing ad libitum energy intake from covertly manipulated high-fat (HFAT; 50% fat) or high-carbohydrate (HCHO; 70% carbohydrate) meals in a randomized crossover design. Habitual physical activity was assessed using SenseWear accelerometers (SWA). Body composition, resting metabolic rate, eating behaviour traits, fasting appetite-related peptides and hedonic food reward were also measured. Results: In the whole sample, passive overconsumption was observed with greater energy intake at HFAT compared to HCHO (pββ0.05). SWA confirmed that HiPA were more active than LoPA (pββ0.05 for all). Conclusions: Non-obese individuals with high or low physical activity levels but matched for BMI showed similar susceptibility to passive overconsumption when consuming an ad libitum high-fat compared to a high-carbohydrate meal. This occurred despite increased total daily energy expenditure and improved body composition in HiPA. Greater differences in body composition and/or physical activity levels may be required to impact on satiation
Identification of Critical Amino Acids in an Immunodominant IgE Epitope of Pen c 13, a Major Allergen from Penicillium citrinum
Background: Pen c 13, identified as a 33-kDa alkaline serine protease, is a major allergen secreted by Penicillium citrinum. Detailed knowledge about the epitopes responsible for IgE binding would help inform the diagnosis/prognosis of fungal allergy and facilitate the rational design of hypoallergenic candidate vaccines. The goal of the present study was to characterize the IgE epitopes of Pen c 13. Methodology/Principal Findings: Serum samples were collected from 10 patients with mold allergy and positive Pen c 13 skin test results. IgE-binding epitopes on rPen c 13 were mapped using an enzymatic digestion and chemical cleavage method, followed by dot-blotting and mass spectrometry. A B-cell epitope-predicting server and molecular modeling were used to predict the residues most likely involved in IgE binding. Theoretically predicted IgE-binding regions were further confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis assays. At least twelve different IgE-binding epitopes located throughout Pen c 13 were identified. Of these, peptides S16 (A 148 βE 166) and S22 (A 243 βK 274) were recognized by sera from 90 % and 100 % of the patients tested, and were further confirmed by inhibition assays. Peptide S22 was selected for further analysis of IgE-binding ability. The results of serum screening showed that the majority of IgE-binding ability resided in the C-terminus. One Pen c 13 mutant, G270A (T 261 βK 274), exhibited clearly enhanced IgE reactivity, whereas another, K274A, exhibited dramatically reduced IgE reactivity
The ATP-Binding Cassette Proteins of the Deep-Branching Protozoan Parasite Trichomonas vaginalis
The ATP binding cassette (ABC) proteins are a family of membrane transporters and regulatory proteins responsible for diverse and critical cellular process in all organisms. To date, there has been no attempt to investigate this class of proteins in the infectious parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. We have utilized a combination of bioinformatics, gene sequence analysis, gene expression and confocal microscopy to investigate the ABC proteins of T. vaginalis. We demonstrate that, uniquely among eukaryotes, T. vaginalis possesses no intact full-length ABC transporters and has undergone a dramatic expansion of some ABC protein sub-families. Furthermore, we provide preliminary evidence that T. vaginalis is able to read through in-frame stop codons to express ABC transporter components from gene pairs in a head-to-tail orientation. Finally, with confocal microscopy we demonstrate the expression and endoplasmic reticulum localization of a number of T. vaginalis ABC transporters
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