Comparison between active sensor and radiosonde cloud boundaries over the ARM Southern Great Plains site

In order to test the strengths and limitations of cloud boundary retrievals from radiosonde profiles, 4 years of radar, lidar, and ceilometer data collected at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurements Southern Great Plains site from November 1996 through October 2000 are used to assess the retrievals of Wang and Rossow [1995] and Chernykh and Eskridge [1996]. The lidar and ceilometer data yield lowest-level cloud base heights that are, on average, within approximately 125 m of each other when both systems detect a cloud. These quantities are used to assess the accuracy of coincident cloud base heights obtained from radar and the two radiosonde-based methods applied to 200 m resolution profiles obtained at the same site. The lidar/ceilometer and radar cloud base heights agree by 0.156 ± 0.423 km for 85.27% of the observations, while the agreement between the lidar/ceilometer and radiosonde-derived heights is at best −0.044 ± 0.559 km for 74.60% of all cases. Agreement between radar- and radiosonde-derived cloud boundaries is better for cloud base height than for cloud top height, being at best 0.018 ± 0.641 km for 70.91% of the cloud base heights and 0.348 ± 0.729 km for 68.27% of the cloud top heights. The disagreements between radar- and radiosonde-derived boundaries are mainly caused by broken cloud situations when it is difficult to verify that drifting radiosondes and fixed active sensors are observing the same clouds. In the case of the radar the presence of clutter (e.g., vegetal particles or insects) can affect the measurements from the surface up to approximately 3–5 km, preventing comparisons with radiosonde-derived boundaries. Overall, Wang and Rossow [1995] tend to classify moist layers that are not clouds as clouds and both radiosonde techniques report high cloud top heights that are higher than the corresponding heights from radar

Alcohol intake in relation to non-fatal and fatal coronary heart disease and stroke: EPIC-CVD case-cohort study

Objective To investigate the association between alcohol consumption (at baseline and over lifetime) and non-fatal and fatal coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. Design Multicentre case-cohort study. Setting A study of cardiovascular disease (CVD) determinants within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and nutrition cohort (EPIC-CVD) from eight European countries. Participants 32 549 participants without baseline CVD, comprised of incident CVD cases and a subcohort for comparison. Main outcome measures Non-fatal and fatal CHD and stroke (including ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke). Results There were 9307 non-fatal CHD events, 1699 fatal CHD, 5855 non-fatal stroke, and 733 fatal stroke. Baseline alcohol intake was inversely associated with non-fatal CHD, with a hazard ratio of 0.94 (95% confidence interval 0.92 to 0.96) per 12 g/day higher intake. There was a J shaped association between baseline alcohol intake and risk of fatal CHD. The hazard ratios were 0.83 (0.70 to 0.98), 0.65 (0.53 to 0.81), and 0.82 (0.65 to 1.03) for categories 5.0-14.9 g/day, 15.0-29.9 g/day, and 30.0-59.9 g/day of total alcohol intake, respectively, compared with 0.1-4.9 g/day. In contrast, hazard ratios for non-fatal and fatal stroke risk were 1.04 (1.02 to 1.07), and 1.05 (0.98 to 1.13) per 12 g/day increase in baseline alcohol intake, respectively, including broadly similar findings for ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke. Associations with cardiovascular outcomes were broadly similar with average lifetime alcohol consumption as for baseline alcohol intake, and across the eight countries studied. There was no strong evidence for interactions of alcohol consumption with smoking status on the risk of CVD events. Conclusions Alcohol intake was inversely associated with non-fatal CHD risk but positively associated with the risk of different stroke subtypes. This highlights the opposing associations of alcohol intake with different CVD types and strengthens the evidence for policies to reduce alcohol consumption

Development of a controlled release formulation based on SLN and NLC for topical clotrimazole delivery

Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) are colloidal carrier systems providing controlled release profiles for many Substances. Clotrimazole-loaded SLN and NLC were prepared by the hot high pressure homogenization technique in order to evaluate the physical stability of these particles, as well as the entrapment efficiency of this lipophilic drug and its in vitro release profile. The particle size was analyzed by PCS and LD showing that the particles remained in their colloidal state during 3 months of storage at 4, 20 and 40degreesC. For all tested formulations the entrapment efficiency was higher than 50%. The obtained results also demonstrate the use of these lipid nanoparticles as modified release formulations for lipophilic drugs over a period of 10 h

Investigation of marmoset hybrids (Cebuella pygmaea x Callithrix jacchus) and related Callitrichinae (Platyrrhini) by cross-species chromosome painting and comparative genomic hybridization

We report on the cytogenetics of twin offspring from an interspecies cross in marmosets (Callitrichinae, Platyrrhini), resulting from a pairing between a female Common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus, 2n = 46) and a male Pygmy marmoset (Cebuella pygmaea, 2n = 44). We analyzed their karyotypes by multi-directional chromosome painting employing human, Saguinus oedipus and Lagothrix lagothricha chromosome-specific probes. Both hybrid individuals had a karyotype with a diploid chromosome number of 2n = 45. As a complementary tool, interspecies comparative genomic hybridization (iCGH) was performed in order to screen for genomic imbalances between the hybrids and their parental species, and between Callithrix argentata and S. oedipus, respectively. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel

Unusual Formation of Point-Defect Complexes in the Ultrawide-Band-Gap Semiconductor β-Ga2 O3

Understanding the unique properties of ultra-wide band gap semiconductors requires detailed information about the exact nature of point defects and their role in determining the properties. Here, we report the first direct microscopic observation of an unusual formation of point defect complexes within the atomic-scale structure of β-Ga2O3 using high resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). Each complex involves one cation interstitial atom paired with two cation vacancies. These divacancy-interstitial complexes correlate directly with structures obtained by density functional theory, which predicts them to be compensating acceptors in β-Ga2O3. This prediction is confirmed by a comparison between STEM data and deep level optical spectroscopy results, which reveals that these complexes correspond to a deep trap within the band gap, and that the development of the complexes is facilitated by Sn doping through increased vacancy concentration. These findings provide new insight on this emerging material's unique response to the incorporation of impurities that can critically influence their properties

Evaluation of the physical stability of SLN and NLC before and after incorporation into hydrogel formulations

Aqueous dispersions of lipid nanoparticles are being investigated as drug delivery systems for different therapeutic purposes. One of their interesting features is the possibility of topical use, for which these systems have to be incorporated into commonly used dermal carriers, such as creams or hydrogels, in order to have a proper semisolid consistency. For the present investigation four different gel-forming agents (xanthan gum, hydroxyethylcellulose 4000, Carbopol(R)943 and chitosan) were selected for hydrogel preparation. Aqueous dispersions of lipid nanoparticles-solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC)-made from tripalmitin were prepared by hot high pressure homogenization and then incorporated into the freshly prepared hydrogels. NLC differ from SLN due to the presence of a liquid lipid (Miglyol(R)812) in the lipid matrix. Lipid nanoparticles were physically characterized before and after their incorporation into hydrogels. By means of rheological investigations it could be demonstrated that physical properties of the dispersed lipid phase have a great impact on the rheological properties of the prepared semisolid formulations. By employing an oscillation frequency sweep test, significant differences in elastic response of SLN and NLC aqueous dispersions could be observed

Comparative study between the viscoelastic behaviors of different lipid nanoparticle formulations

Application of drug substances to the skin for systemic absorption or action in a particular layer of the skin is a rather old approach. However, over the last years it has received much more attention, as a consequence of the development of new membrane-moderated and matrix reservoir devices. As new reservoir systems, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN(TM)) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC(TM)) have been successfully tested for dermal application of different physicochemical substances. The knowledge obtained from theological investigations of these systems may be highly Useful for the characterization of the newly developed topical formulation. In the present study, an oscillation frequency sweep test was used for the evaluation of storage modulus (G'), loss modulus (G"), and complex viscosity (eta*) of twelve different SLN and NLC formulations, over a frequency range from 0 to 10 Hz. The lipiclic aqueous dispersions were prepared using three different solid lipids (Softisan(R)138, Compritol(R)888, and stearyl alcohol) as matrix material. Miglyol(R)812, tocopherol, sunflower oil, and long-chain triacylglycerols were the chosen liquid lipids for NLC preparation. The objective of the present work was to investigate the effect of these different liquid lipids on the theological properties of aqueous dispersions of NLC as model systems. It was found that the liquid oil component of the formulation has a strong influence on the viscoelastic parameters, which are dependent on the particle size, zeta potential, and crystallinity of the lipid particles, as well as on the solid lipid used

InVERT molding for scalable control of tissue microarchitecture

Complex tissues contain multiple cell types that are hierarchically organized within morphologically and functionally distinct compartments. Construction of engineered tissues with optimized tissue architecture has been limited by tissue fabrication techniques, which do not enable versatile microscale organization of multiple cell types in tissues of size adequate for physiological studies and tissue therapies. Here we present an ‘Intaglio-Void/Embed-Relief Topographic molding’ method for microscale organization of many cell types, including induced pluripotent stem cell-derived progeny, within a variety of synthetic and natural extracellular matrices and across tissues of sizes appropriate for in vitro, pre-clinical, and clinical studies. We demonstrate that compartmental placement of non-parenchymal cells relative to primary or induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocytes, compartment microstructure, and cellular composition modulate hepatic functions. Configurations found to sustain physiological function in vitro also result in survival and function in mice for at least 4 weeks, demonstrating the importance of architectural optimization before implantation.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (EB008396)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (DK56966)National Cancer Institute (U.S.) (Cancer Center Support Core Grant P30-CA14051)National Institutes of Health (U.S.). Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (1F32DK091007)National Institutes of Health (U.S.). Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (1F32DK095529)National Science Foundation (U.S.). Graduate Research Fellowship Program (1122374

Characterisation of the bacterial and fungal communities associated with different lesion sizes of Dark Spot Syndrome occurring in the Coral Stephanocoenia intersepta

The number and prevalence of coral diseases/syndromes are increasing worldwide. Dark Spot Syndrome (DSS) afflicts numerous coral species and is widespread throughout the Caribbean, yet there are no known causal agents. In this study we aimed to characterise the microbial communities (bacteria and fungi) associated with DSS lesions affecting the coral Stephanocoenia intersepta using nonculture molecular techniques. Bacterial diversity of healthy tissues (H), those in advance of the lesion interface (apparently healthy AH), and three sizes of disease lesions (small, medium, and large) varied significantly (ANOSIM R = 0.052 p,0.001), apart from the medium and large lesions, which were similar in their community profile. Four bacteria fitted into the pattern expected from potential pathogens; namely absent from H, increasing in abundance within AH, and dominant in the lesions themselves. These included ribotypes related to Corynebacterium (KC190237), Acinetobacter (KC190251), Parvularculaceae (KC19027), and Oscillatoria (KC190271). Furthermore, two Vibrio species, a genus including many proposed coral pathogens, dominated the disease lesion and were absent from H and AH tissues, making them candidates as potential pathogens for DSS. In contrast, other members of bacteria from the same genus, such as V. harveyii were present throughout all sample types, supporting previous studies where potential coral pathogens exist in healthy tissues. Fungal diversity varied significantly as well, however the main difference between diseased and healthy tissues was the dominance of one ribotype, closely related to the plant pathogen, Rhytisma acerinum, a known causal agent of tar spot on tree leaves. As the corals’ symbiotic algae have been shown to turn to a darker pigmented state in DSS (giving rise to the syndromes name), the two most likely pathogens are R. acerinum and the bacterium Oscillatoria, which has been identified as the causal agent of the colouration in Black Band Disease, another widespread coral disease