6,233 research outputs found
Field-testing at high-altitude: Recommendations from Leeds Metropolitan Universityâs Himalayan 2011 research expedition team
Glutathione s-transferase omega in the lung and sputum supernatants of COPD patients
BACKGROUND: The major contribution to oxidant related lung damage in COPD is from the
oxidant/antioxidant imbalance and possibly impaired antioxidant defence. Glutathione (GSH) is one
of the most important antioxidants in human lung and lung secretions, but the mechanisms
participating in its homeostasis are partly unclear. Glutathione-S-transferase omega (GSTO) is a
recently characterized cysteine containing enzyme with the capability to bind and release GSH in
vitro. GSTO has not been investigated in human lung or lung diseases.
METHODS: GSTO1-1 was investigated by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis in 72
lung tissue specimens and 40 sputum specimens from non-smokers, smokers and COPD, in
bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and in plasma from healthy non-smokers and smokers. It was also
examined in human monocytes and bronchial epithelial cells and their culture mediums in vitro.
RESULTS: GSTO1-1 was mainly expressed in alveolar macrophages, but it was also found in airway
and alveolar epithelium and in extracellular fluids including sputum supernatants, bronchoalveolar
lavage fluid, plasma and cell culture mediums. The levels of GSTO1-1 were significantly lower in the
sputum supernatants (p = 0.023) and lung homogenates (p = 0.003) of COPD patients than in nonsmokers.
CONCLUSION: GSTO1-1 is abundant in the alveolar macrophages, but it is also present in
extracellular fluids and in airway secretions, the levels being decreased in COPD. The clinical
significance of GSTO1-1 and its role in regulating GSH homeostasis in airway secretions, however,
needs further investigations
Fast multipole networks
Two prerequisites for robotic multiagent systems are mobility and
communication. Fast multipole networks (FMNs) enable both ends within a unified
framework. FMNs can be organized very efficiently in a distributed way from
local information and are ideally suited for motion planning using artificial
potentials. We compare FMNs to conventional communication topologies, and find
that FMNs offer competitive communication performance (including higher network
efficiency per edge at marginal energy cost) in addition to advantages for
mobility
Two center multipole expansion method: application to macromolecular systems
We propose a new theoretical method for the calculation of the interaction
energy between macromolecular systems at large distances. The method provides a
linear scaling of the computing time with the system size and is considered as
an alternative to the well known fast multipole method. Its efficiency,
accuracy and applicability to macromolecular systems is analyzed and discussed
in detail.Comment: 23 pages, 7 figures, 1 tabl
Progressive dehydration in decomposing bone: a potential tool for forensic anthropology
The aim of this pilot study was to determine whether collagen and/or water content of bone vary during soft tissue putrefaction by thermogravimetric analysis with a view to eventually developing a possible forensic application to determine post-mortem interval. Porcine bone decomposed in a shallow burial showed an approximate difference in average mass loss of 15 â±â8% when heated between 22 and 100 °C, compared to 14 ± 3% for porcine bone decomposed in a surface deposition, equating to water loss. Mass loss showed peaks at 0, 250â500 and 1200â1500 cumulative cooling degree daysâ (CCDD) deposition for the experimental porcine bone. Should these measurements prove consistent in future studies on a wider variety of porcine and eventually human skeletal elements, they may have potential to be corroborated with other data when determining post-mortem interval, especially with disarticulated bones. A downward trend in mass loss was apparent within shallow burial and surface deposition scenarios (inclusive of freeze-dried controls) for the thermolysis of collagen (and other proteins) between 220 and 650 °C during thermogravimetric analysis. This was inconsistent within the time frame examined (0â1450 cumulative cooling degree days), and so demonstrates less potential as an indicator of post-mortem interval during soft tissue putrefaction
The psychological-type profile of clergywomen in ordained local ministry in the Church of England : pioneers or custodians?
This study employs psychological-type theory to compare the psychological profile of 144 clergywomen serving in ordained local ministry in the Church of England alongside the established profile of 237 professional mobile clergywomen serving in the Church of England published by Francis, Craig, Whinney, Tilley, and Slater. The data found no significant differences between these two groups of clergywomen in terms of orientations (introversion and extraversion) or in terms of the judging process (thinking and feeling). In terms of the perceiving process, there was a significantly higher proportion of sensing types among those serving in ordained local ministry (70% compared with 35%). In terms of the attitudes, there was a significantly higher proportion of judging types among those serving in ordained local ministry (83% compared with 65%). The combined sensing judging (SJ) temperament accounted for 65% of the clergywomen serving in ordained local ministry, compared with 29% of the clergywomen serving in professional mobile ministry in the earlier study. It is argued that the SJ temperament characterises a custodian style of ministry
Expression of hemochromatosis in homozygous subjects. Implications for early diagnosis and prevention
The behavioral theory of the (community-oriented) firm: The differing response of community-oriented firms to performance relative to aspirations
High School Exit Examinations: When Do Learning Effects Generalize?
This paper reviews international and domestic evidence on the effects of three types of high school exit exam systems: voluntary curriculum-based external exit exams, universal curriculum-based external exit exam systems and minimum competency tests that must be passed to receive a regular high school diploma. The nations and provinces that use Universal CBEEES (and typically teacher grades as well) to signal student achievement have significantly higher achievement levels and smaller differentials by family background than otherwise comparable jurisdictions that base high stakes decisions on voluntary college admissions tests and/or teacher grades. The introduction of Universal CBEEES in New York and North Carolina during the 1990s was associated with large increases in math achievement on NAEP tests. Research on MCTs and high school accountability tests is less conclusive because these systems are new and have only been implemented in one country. Cross-section studies using a comprehensive set of controls for family background have not found that students in MCT states score higher on audit tests like the NAEP that carry no stakes for the test taker. The analysis reported in table 1 tells us that the five states that introduced MCTs during the 1990s had significantly larger improvements on NAEP tests than states that made no change in their student accountability regime. The gains, however, are smaller than for the states introducing Universal CBEEES. New York and North Carolina. The most positive finding about MCTs is that students in MCT states earn significantly more during the first eight years after graduation than comparable students in other states suggesting that MCTs improve employer perceptions of the quality of the recent graduates of local high schools
Phosphorus and Potassium Fertilizer Application Strategies in CornâSoybean Rotations
To determine if current university fertilizer rate and timing recommendations pose a limitation to high-yield corn (Zea mays subsp. mays) and soybean (Glycine max) production, this study compared annual Phosphorous (P) and Potassium (K) fertilizer applications to biennial fertilizer applications, applied at 1Ă and 2Ă recommended rates in cornâsoybean rotations located in Minnesota (MN), Iowa (IA), Michigan (MI), Arkansas (AR), and Louisiana (LA). At locations with either soil test P or K in the sub-optimal range, corn grain yield was significantly increased with fertilizer application at five of sixteen site years, while soybean seed yield was significantly increased with fertilizer application at one of sixteen site years. At locations with both soil test P and K at optimal or greater levels, corn grain yield was significantly increased at three of thirteen site years and soybean seed yield significantly increased at one of fourteen site years when fertilizer was applied. Site soil test values were generally inversely related to the likelihood of a yield response from fertilizer application, which is consistent with yield response frequencies outlined in state fertilizer recommendations. Soybean yields were similar regardless if fertilizer was applied in the year of crop production or before the preceding corn crop. Based on the results of this work across the US and various yield potentials, it was confirmed that the practice of applying P and K fertilizers at recommended rates biennially prior to first year corn production in a cornâsoybean rotation does not appear to be a yield limiting factor in modern, high management production systems
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