Measurements of solids concentration and axial solids velocity in gas-solid two-phase flows.

Several techniques reported in the literature for measuring solids concentration and solids velocity in (dense) gas-solid two-phase flow have been briefly reviewed. An optical measuring system, based on detection of light reflected by the suspended particles, has been developed to measure local solids concentration and local axial solids velocity in dense gas-solid two phase flows. This system has been applied to study hydrodynamics of a cold-flow circulating fluidized bed unit operated in the dense flow regime (uD: 7.5¿15 m s¿1 and Gs = 100¿400 kg m¿2 s¿). With increasing solids mass flux, at constant superficial gas velocity, lateral solids segregation became more pronounced (i.e. extent of development of core-annulus structure) while the radial profiles of axial solids velocity hardly changed. A decrease in superficial gas velocity, at constant solids mass flux, also augmented the lateral solids segregation. The axial solids velocity decreased over the entire tube radius, although the shape of the profiles showed no strong dependence with respect to the superficial gas velocity. Average solids mass fluxes calculated from the measured local values of solids concentration and solids velocity exceeded the imposed solids mass flux, a finding which could be explained by the downflow observed visually of solid particles close to the tube wall. In addition, cross-sectional averaged solids concentrations obtained on the basis of the optical measuring system and those obtained from the pressure gradient measurements showed satisfactory agreement

On the incrementality of pragmatic processing: An ERP investigation of informativeness and pragmatic abilities

In two event-related potential (ERP) experiments, we determined to what extent Grice’s maxim of informativeness as well as pragmatic ability contributes to the incremental build-up of sentence meaning, by examining the impact of underinformative versus informative scalar statements (e.g. “Some people have lungs/pets, and…”) on the N400 event-related potential (ERP), an electrophysiological index of semantic processing. In Experiment 1, only pragmatically skilled participants (as indexed by the Autism Quotient Communication subscale) showed a larger N400 to underinformative statements. In Experiment 2, this effect disappeared when the critical words were unfocused so that the local underinformativeness went unnoticed (e.g., “Some people have lungs that…”). Our results suggest that, while pragmatic scalar meaning can incrementally contribute to sentence comprehension, this contribution is dependent on contextual factors, whether these are derived from individual pragmatic abilities or the overall experimental context

Evaluation of coagulation activation after Rhinovirus infection in patients with asthma and healthy control subjects: an observational study

Background Asthma exacerbations are frequently triggered by rhinovirus infections. Both asthma and respiratory tract infection can activate haemostasis. Therefore we hypothesized that experimental rhinovirus-16 infection and asthmatic airway inflammation act in synergy on the haemostatic balance. Methods 28 patients (14 patients with mild allergic asthma and 14 healthy non-allergic controls) were infected with low-dose rhinovirus type 16. Venous plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL fluid) were obtained before and 6 days after infection to evaluate markers of coagulation activation, thrombin-antithrombin complexes, von Willebrand factor, plasmin-antiplasmin complexes, plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1, endogenous thrombin potential and tissue factor-exposing microparticles by fibrin generation test, in plasma and/or BAL fluid. Data were analysed by nonparametric tests (Wilcoxon, Mann Whitney and Spearman correlation). Results 13 patients with mild asthma (6 females, 19-29 y) and 11 healthy controls (10 females, 19-31 y) had a documented Rhinovirus-16 infection. Rhinovirus-16 challenge resulted in a shortening of the fibrin generation test in BAL fluid of asthma patients (t = -1: 706 s vs. t = 6: 498 s; p = 0.02), but not of controls (t = -1: 693 s vs. t = 6: 636 s; p = 0.65). The fold change in tissue factor-exposing microparticles in BAL fluid inversely correlated with the fold changes in eosinophil cationic protein and myeloperoxidase in BAL fluid after virus infection (r = -0.517 and -0.528 resp., both p = 0.01). Rhinovirus-16 challenge led to increased plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 levels in plasma in patients with asthma (26.0 ng/mL vs. 11.5 ng/mL in healthy controls, p = 0.04). Rhinovirus-16 load in BAL showed a linear correlation with the fold change in endogenous thrombin potential, plasmin-antiplasmin complexes and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1. Conclusions Experimental rhinovirus infection induces procoagulant changes in the airways of patients with asthma through increased activity of tissue factor-exposing microparticles. These microparticle-associated procoagulant changes are associated with both neutrophilic and eosinophilic inflammation. Systemic activation of haemostasis increases with Rhinoviral load

CO80 89. Estudio multicéntrico español de la capacidad predictiva de las escalas de riesgo CHADS2 y CHA2DS2vasc en el accidente cerebrovascular tras cirugía coronaria aislada

ObjetivosValidar las escalas de riesgo CHADS2 y CHA2DS-2VASC como modelos predictivos de desarrollo de accidente cerebrovascular (ACV) en cirugía coronaria aislada (CCA).Material y métodosPacientes consecutivos sometidos a CCA en 16 hospitales españoles. Excluidos casos con igual o más de una variable/s incompleta/s. Puntuaciones CHADS2 y CHA2DS2VASC computadas para todos los pacientes, considerándose variable de resultado la aparición de ACV (ataque isquémico transitorio [AIT]/ictus) perioperatorio precoz (primer mes postoperatorio y/o alta hospitalaria). Análisis uni y multivariante. La capacidad discriminativa fue cuantificada por el cálculo del área bajo la curva ROC (AUC).ResultadosVeinte mil novecientos ochenta pacientes incluidos, 282 desarrollaron ACV postoperatorio (1,34%). La incidencia de ACV fue superior en pacientes con insuficiencia cardíaca congestiva (ICC) y/o fracción de eyección inferior al 40% (4,10 vs 0,83%), diabéticos (1,70 vs 1,11%), hipertensos (1,60 vs 0,98%), ACV previo (2,72 vs 1,26%) y a enfermedad arterial periférica (EAP) (3,04 vs 1,04%; p < 0,05). En el análisis multivariante, ICCC (odds ratio [OR]: 4,06), ACV previo (OR: 1,48), EAP (OR: 1,49) constituyeron factores de riesgo independientes para el desarrollo de ACV postoperatorio (p < 0,05). El AUC para CHADS2 fue 0,666, y para CHA2DS2VASc 0,655 (p < 0,0001). La distribución de las tasas de ACV postoperatorio según las puntuaciones de las anteriores escalas se recoge en la figura 1 (p < 0,0001). Figura 1Tasas de ACV postoperatorio en pacientes sometidos a CCA según puntuaciones de las escalas CHADS2 (gris) y CHA2DS2VASC (negro).ConclusionesLas escalas de riesgo CHADS2 y CHA2DS-2VASC pueden resultar útiles en la práctica clínica para estratificar el riesgo de desarrollo de ACV postoperatorio en pacientes sometidos a CCA

Saccharomyces cerevisiae-derived HBsAg preparations differ in their attachment to monocytes, immune-suppressive potential, and T-cell immunogenicity

Expression of the hepatitis B virus S protein results in the formation of a lipoprotein particle, the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Such particles, produced in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, bind to the cell surface of monocytes through interaction with the lipopolysaccharide binding protein and the lipopolysaccharide receptor, CD14. This attachment is suggested to depend on the presence of charged phospholipids in the particles. In addition, such particles interfere with the lipopolysaccharide and interleukin-2-induced activation of monocytes. In the present study, it is reported that of three Saccharomyces cerevisiae-derived HBsAg preparations, two have a reduced capacity to bind to monocytes. A correlation with a reduced potential to inhibit the lipopolysaccharide-induced activation of monocytes and an increased potential to stimulate HBsAg-specific T-cell proliferation is observed. Surprisingly, differences in phospholipid content that might explain these observations, were not detected. (C) 2003 Wiley-Liss, In

Climacteric Lowers Plasma Levels of Platelet-Derived Microparticles: A Pilot Study in Pre-versus Postmenopausal Women

Background: Climacteric increases the risk of thrombotic events by alteration of plasmatic coagulation. Up to now, less is known about changes in platelet-(PMP) and endothelial cell-derived microparticles (EMP). Methods: In this prospective study, plasma levels of microparticles (MP) were compared in 21 premenopausal and 19 postmenopausal women. Results: No altered numbers of total MP or EMP were measured within the study groups. However, the plasma values of CD61-exposing MP from platelets/megakaryocytes were higher in premenopausal women (5,364 x 10(6)/l, range 4,384-17,167) as compared to postmenopausal women (3,808 x 10(6)/l, range 2,009-8,850; p = 0.020). This differentiation was also significant for the subgroup of premenopausal women without hormonal contraceptives (5,364 x 10(6)/l, range 4,223-15,916; p = 0.047; n = 15). Furthermore, in premenopausal women, higher plasma levels of PMP exposing CD62P were also present as compared to postmenopausal women (288 x 10(6)/l, range 139-462, vs. 121 x 10(6)/l, range 74-284; p = 0.024). This difference was also true for CD63+ PMP levels (281 x 10(6)/l, range 182-551, vs. 137 x 10(6)/l, range 64-432; p = 0.015). Conclusion: Climacteric lowers the level of PMP but has no impact on the number of EMP in women. These data suggest that PMP and EMP do not play a significant role in enhancing the risk of thrombotic events in healthy, postmenopausal women. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Base

Active caspase-3 is removed from cells by release of caspase-3-enriched vesicles

AbstractCleavage of Rho associated Coiled Coil kinase I (ROCK I) by caspase-3 contributes to membrane blebbing. Whether caspase-3 and ROCK I also play a role in the release of membrane vesicles is unknown. Therefore, we transfected a human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) that is caspase-3 deficient, lacks membrane blebbing, and does not release membrane vesicles, with caspase-3. Cells expressing caspase-3 demonstrate both ROCK I-mediated membrane blebbing, and release of small (400–600nm) membrane vesicles in a ROCK I-independent manner. These membrane vesicles contain caspase-3, and are enriched in caspase-3 activity compared to the releasing cells. Caspase-3-containing vesicles are taken up by untransfected cells but the cells do not show any sign of apoptosis. In conclusion, we show that the release of caspase-3-enriched membrane vesicles and membrane blebbing are two differentially regulated processes. Furthermore, we hypothesize that packaging of caspase-3 into membrane vesicles contributes to cellular homeostasis by the removal of caspase-3, and concurrently, protects the cells' environment from direct exposure to caspase-3 activity