Laboratory and intra-oral tests of the degradation of elastic chains

Two brands of elastic chain, Alastic (Unitek Co.) and Power Chain II (Ormco Co.), were tested for force development in laboratory and intra-oral experiments. During the laboratory test, the chains were extended to 180 and 215 per cent of their original passive length and the force exerted at this length was measured at the start and after 15 minutes, 2, 8 and 24 hours, 3 days and 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks of continuous extension. The two brands behaved similarly. After 4 weeks, they had lost 25-30 per cent of their initial force. The decrease of the force value was greatest in the beginning of the test period, with a decline of 6-11 per cent during the first 15 minutes and 10-16 per cent during the first 2 hours. The intra-oral tests were performed in 10-25 subjects, who wore the elastic chains continuously for up to 4 weeks. The chains were extended up to 200 per cent of their original passive length. In one test, the force development was measured at the start and after 8 and 24 hours, 5 days and 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks. In two other tests the force was measured after 1 day and 4 weeks, respectively. The two brands behaved similarly. The decline of the force value during intra-oral use was greater than in the laboratory tests. After 4 weeks, the force was only 43-52 per cent of the original value. The decline was greatest in the initial phase after insertion; after 8 hours the force had declined by 28-34 per cent. Thus, an initial force of 300g was reduced to 200g after 8 hours and to less than 150g after 4 weeks: in no specimen was the force after 4 weeks less than 100

CULTURA e Língua Pomeranas: um Estudo de Caso em uma Escola do Ensino Fundamental no Município de Santa Maria de Jetibá Espírito Santo Brasil

Esta pesquisa analisa, em uma escola de ensino fundamental do município de Santa Maria de Jetibá, estado do Espírito Santo Brasil: a) como diferentes sujeitos, que ali interagem, veem e promovem sua cultura, em especial a língua pomerana; e b) avaliam-se aspectos do Programa de Educação Escolar Pomerana PROEPO , para verificar sua contribuição para a manutenção da língua materna pomerana. Traça-se brevemente a história da imigração pomerana, bem como as produções acadêmicas referentes à educação desse povo em terras capixabas, e prestam-se informações sobre a educação atual do município, a língua pomerana e o PROEPO. O estudo se beneficiou de discussões sobre abordagens qualitativas de educação para a realização de estudo de caso, para a análise de documentos, observação participante, aplicação de questionários, realização de entrevistas semiestruturadas e diário de campo. Trabalharam-se conceitos, como: língua (GERALDI, 2010; BOURDIEU, 1996) cultura (BRANDÃO, 2002; CANCLINI, 2009; FREIRE & FAUNDEZ,1985) bilinguismo, educação bilíngue, direitos linguísticos, política linguística e sociolinguística educacional (BORTONI-RICARDO, 2004, 2005; CALVET, 2002, 2007; OLIVEIRA, 2000, 2007; HAMEL, 2003). Os resultados obtidos evidenciam que 95% dos alunos são descendentes pomeranos e, desses, 90% são bilíngues pomerano-português. Os usos da língua pomerana predominam no seio familiar entre os sujeitos mais velhos; quando se trata das gerações mais novas, ocorre o bilinguismo. Em outros domínios sociais, como igrejas, escolas, comércio e festas, o português é mais recorrente. No ambiente escolar, o português é a língua oficial, ainda que isso não signifique a anulação da língua materna pomerana que é também ofertada como disciplina específica. Os pais ressaltam a importância de ambas as línguas na vida dos filhos e defendem o bilinguismo para a manutenção do pomerano. Atribui-se ao PROEPO o mérito da manutenção desta língua de imigração, ao mesmo tempo em que os sujeitos da pesquisa externam preocupação quanto ao repasse da língua para as futuras gerações, bem como a ampliação de debates sobre a difusão da língua pomerana em outras esferas sociais. Impactos sobre a perda da língua para o povo tradicional pomerano ainda são conjecturas, mas podem significar destruição de conhecimentos e saberes tradicionais, transmitidos entre as gerações até os dias atuais

Risks Factors for Infections with Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae at a Tertiary Care University Hospital in Switzerland

Abstract : Background: : There are considerable geographical differencesin the occurrence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase(ESBL)-producing bacteria, both in the community and in thehospital setting. Our aim was to assess risk factors forbloodstream, urinary tract, and vascular catheter-associatedinfections with ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiellapneumoniae at a tertiary care hospital in a low-prevalencecountry. Methods: : We performed a case-control study comparing 58patients with infections due to ESBL-producing E. coli orK. pneumoniae vs 116 controls with infections due to non-ESBL producing organisms at the University Hospital Zurich,Switzerland, between 1 July 2005 and 30 June 2007. Results: : Cases included 15 outpatients and 43 inpatients.Multivariable analyses found three risk factors for ESBL-producingisolates: begin of symptoms or recent antibioticpre-treatment in a foreign country (odds ratio [OR] 27.01,95% confidence interval [CI] 2.38-1,733.28], p = 0.042),antibiotic therapy within the year preceding the isolation ofthe ESBL-producing strain (OR 2.88, 95% CI 1.13-8.49,p = 0.025), and mechanical ventilation (OR 10.56, 95% CI1.06-579.10, p = 0.042). Conclusions: : The major risk factors for infections due toESBL-producing bacteria were travel in high-prevalencecountries, prior antibiotic use, and mechanical ventilationduring a stay in the intensive care unit. Community-acquiredinfections were documented in 17% of the patients.An early identification of risk factors is crucial to providingthe patients an optimal empiric antibiotic therapy and tokeep the use of carbapenems to a minimu

Initial management of and outcome in patients with pneumococcal bacteremia: a retrospective study at a Swiss university hospital, 2003-2009

Purpose: The aim of this quality control study was to assess the time to initial diagnostic procedures and the time to the first dose of antibiotics in patients with pneumococcal bacteremia, and to investigate whether the timeliness of these interventions influenced outcome. Methods: We retrospectively studied patient characteristics, chronological sequence of diagnostic and therapeutic steps, and the course of disease of all patients with pneumococcal bacteremia at a Swiss university hospital between 2003 and 2009, and we analyzed associations between these factors and the length of hospital stay (LOS) and mortality. Results: A total of 102 episodes of pneumococcal bacteremia in 98 patients were analyzed, of whom 15.7% died during hospitalization. The median time (interquartile range [IQR]) to the first antibiotic dose was 4.0 (2.0-5.9)h, and the median times (IQR]) to blood cultures, chest radiograph, lumbar puncture, and brain computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were 1.4 (0.5-3.3), 2.5 (1.2-4.2), 4.2 (2.7-7.2), and 2.3 (0.6-6.2)h, respectively. The time to diagnostic procedures and therapy were not associated with LOS or death. Risk factors for death in the univariable analysis were: Charlson comorbidity index [odds ratio [OR] (95% confidence interval) per unit increase, 1.3 (1.1-1.6)], neutropenia [OR 10.1 (2.0-51.0)], human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection [OR 3.9 (1.1-13.8)], chronic respiratory disease [OR 4.4 (1.2-16.0)], chronic liver disease [OR 3.2 (1.0-9.7)], smoking [OR 3.8 (1.1-13.5)], injection drug use [OR 9.7 (1.5-63.7)], and antibiotic therapy within 6months before admission [OR 4.0 (1.3-12.5)]. The multivariable analysis revealed age >60years (P=0.048) and alcoholism (P=0.009) as risks for prolonged LOS. Conclusions: The outcome of pneumococcal bacteremia may be more influenced by patient characteristics than by minor differences in the timeliness of initial diagnostic and therapeutic measures within the first several hours after hospital admissio

Quantitative Antibiotic Use in Hospitals: Comparison of Measurements, Literature Review, and Recommendations for a Standard of Reporting

Abstract : Background: : Reports on antibiotic use often lack complete definitions of the units of measurement, hampering the comparison of data between hospitals or hospital units. Patients and Methods: : To compare methods of measures of in-hospital antimicrobial use, we determined aggregate in-hospital consumption data at a tertiary care university hospital using variations of nominators and denominators. Means of defined daily doses (DDD) of individual antimicrobials per 100 bed-days and per 100 admissions at each hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) were calculated. Furthermore, a literature review was performed for benchmarking purposes. Results: : Antibiotic use in different hospital units ranged from 0.105 to 323.37 DDD/100 bed-days and from 4.23 to 6737.92 DDD/100 admissions, respectively. Including the day of discharge in the denominator ‘bed-days' underestimated antibiotic use in various hospital wards by up to 27.7 DDD/100 bed-days (26.0%). Equating ‘numbers of patients admitted to the hospital' and ‘numbers of admissions' on a hospital level resulted in a difference of 192.6 DDD/100 admissions (64%) because patients transferred between hospital units accounted for multiple admissions. Likewise, reporting antimicrobial (Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical [ATC] group ‘J') instead of antibiotic (ATC group ‘J01') use led to a difference of 16.5 DDD/100 bed-days (19.3%). The literature review revealed underreporting of complete definitions of antibiotic use measurements. Conclusions: : Data on in-hospital antimicrobial use vary widely not only due to different antibiotic policies at different institutions but also due to different methods of measures. Adherence to the standard of reporting the methods of measurement is warranted for benchmarking and promotion of rational antimicrobial us

Origins and composition of fine atmospheric carbonaceous aerosol in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, California

In this paper we report chemically resolved measurements of organic aerosol (OA) and related tracers during the Biosphere Effects on Aerosols and Photochemistry Experiment (BEARPEX) at the Blodgett Forest Research Station, California from 15 August–10 October 2007. OA contributed the majority of the mass to the fine atmospheric particles and was predominately oxygenated (OOA). The highest concentrations of OA were during sporadic wildfire influence when aged plumes were impacting the site. In situ measurements of particle phase molecular markers were dominated by secondary compounds and along with gas phase compounds could be categorized into six factors or sources: (1) aged biomass burning emissions and oxidized urban emissions, (2) oxidized urban emissions (3) oxidation products of monoterpene emissions, (4) monoterpene emissions, (5) anthropogenic emissions and (6) local methyl chavicol emissions and oxidation products. There were multiple biogenic components that contributed to OA at this site whose contributions varied diurnally, seasonally and in response to changing meteorological conditions, e.g. temperature and precipitation events. Concentrations of isoprene oxidation products were larger when temperatures were higher during the first half of the campaign (15 August–12 September) due to more substantial emissions of isoprene and enhanced photochemistry. The oxidation of methyl chavicol, an oxygenated terpene emitted by ponderosa pine trees, contributed similarly to OA throughout the campaign. In contrast, the abundances of monoterpene oxidation products in the particle phase were greater during the cooler conditions in the latter half of the campaign (13 September–10 October), even though emissions of the precursors were lower, although the mechanism is not known. OA was correlated with the anthropogenic tracers 2-propyl nitrate and carbon monoxide (CO), consistent with previous observations, while being comprised of mostly non-fossil carbon (>75%). The correlation between OA and an anthropogenic tracer does not necessarily identify the source of the carbon as being anthropogenic but instead suggests a coupling between the anthropogenic and biogenic components in the air mass that might be related to the source of the oxidant and/or the aerosol sulfate. Observations of organosulfates of isoprene and α-pinene provided evidence for the likely importance of aerosol sulfate in spite of neutralized aerosol although acidic plumes might have played a role upwind of the site. This is in contrast to laboratory studies where strongly acidic seed aerosols were needed in order to form these compounds. These compounds together represented only a minor fraction (<1%) of the total OA mass, which may be the result of the neutralized aerosol at the site or because only a small number of organosulfates were quantified. The low contribution of organosulfates to total OA suggests that other mechanisms, e.g. NO_x enhancement of oxidant levels, are likely responsible for the majority of the anthropogenic enhancement of biogenic secondary organic aerosol observed at this site

Localized inhibition of protein phosphatase 1 by NUAK1 promotes spliceosome activity and reveals a MYC-sensitive feedback control of transcription.

Deregulated expression of MYC induces a dependence on the NUAK1 kinase, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this dependence have not been fully clarified. Here, we show that NUAK1 is a predominantly nuclear protein that associates with a network of nuclear protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) interactors and that PNUTS, a nuclear regulatory subunit of PP1, is phosphorylated by NUAK1. Both NUAK1 and PNUTS associate with the splicing machinery. Inhibition of NUAK1 abolishes chromatin association of PNUTS, reduces spliceosome activity, and suppresses nascent RNA synthesis. Activation of MYC does not bypass the requirement for NUAK1 for spliceosome activity but significantly attenuates transcription inhibition. Consequently, NUAK1 inhibition in MYC-transformed cells induces global accumulation of RNAPII both at the pause site and at the first exon-intron boundary but does not increase mRNA synthesis. We suggest that NUAK1 inhibition in the presence of deregulated MYC traps non-productive RNAPII because of the absence of correctly assembled spliceosomes

Background studies and shielding effects for the TPC detector of the CAST experiment

Sunset solar axions traversing the intense magnetic field of the CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST) experiment may be detected in a Time Projection Chamber (TPC) detector, as X-rays signals. These signals could be masked, however, by the inhomogeneous background of materials in the experimental site. A detailed analysis, based on the detector characteristics, the background radiation at the CAST site, simulations and experimental results, has allowed us to design a shielding which reduces the background level by a factor of ~4 compared to the detector without shielding, depending on its position, in the energy range between 1 and 10 keV. Moreover, this shielding has improved the homogeneity of background measured by the TPC.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, accepted in New Journal of Physic

Background study for the pn-CCD detector of CERN Axion Solar Telescope

The CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST) experiment searches for axions from the Sun converted into photons with energies up to around 10 keV via the inverse Primakoff effect in the high magnetic field of a superconducting Large Hadron Collider (LHC) prototype magnet. A backside illuminated pn-CCD detector in conjunction with an X-ray mirror optics is one of the three detectors used in CAST to register the expected photon signal. Since this signal is very rare and different background components (environmental gamma radiation, cosmic rays, intrinsic radioactive impurities in the set-up, ...) entangle it, a detailed study of the detector background has been undertaken with the aim to understand and further reduce the background level of the detector. The analysis is based on measured data taken during the Phase I of CAST and on Monte Carlo simulations of different background components. This study will show that the observed background level (at a rate of (8.00+-0.07)10^-5 counts/cm^2/s/keV between 1 and 7 keV) seems to be dominated by the external gamma background due to usual activities at the experimental site, while radioactive impurities in the detector itself and cosmic neutrons could make just smaller contribution.Comment: Comments: 10 pages, 9 figures and images, submitted to Astroparticle Physic

Unraveling the Genotype-Phenotype Relationship in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy:Obesity-Related Cardiac Defects as a Major Disease Modifier

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common inherited cardiomyopathy and is characterized by asymmetric septal thickening and diastolic dysfunction. More than 1500 mutations in genes encoding sarcomere proteins are associated with HCM. However, the genotype-phenotype relationship in HCM is incompletely understood and involves modification by additional disease hits. Recent cohort studies identify obesity as a major adverse modifier of disease penetrance, severity, and clinical course. In this review, we provide an overview of these clinical findings. Moreover, we explore putative mechanisms underlying obesity-induced sensitization and aggravation of the HCM phenotype. We hypothesize obesity-related stressors to impact on cardiomyocyte structure, metabolism, and homeostasis. These may impair cardiac function by directly acting on the primary mutation-induced myofilament defects and by independently adding to the total cardiac disease burden. Last, we address important clinical and pharmacological implications of the involvement of obesity in HCM disease modification.</p