473 research outputs found
Spontaneous subarachnoid haemorrhage due to coarctation of aorta and intraspinal collaterals : a rare presentation
The occurrence of spontaneous subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) in association with coarctation of
thoracic aorta and absence of intracranial aneurysm is a rare association. In spontaneous SAH, the
predominant cause is intracranial aneurysmal rupture. This report describes a case of a 40 year-old
male who presented with SAH and was incidentally diagnosed to have coarctation of aorta (CoA)
with intraspinal collaterals on further work up. This case demonstrates the importance of detailed
evaluation of patients with spontaneous SAH on whom common aetiologies have been ruled out.peer-reviewe
Variation in the quality of meat from Irish steers at the time of slaughter.
End of Project ReportThere is no information on the variation in quality, in particular
tenderness, that exists in Irish Beef nor is there information on the
variation that would remain if optimum practices were imposed at
all stages of the beef production chain. Evaluation of the success of
measures to improve beef consistency requires information on
existing variation and the minimum variation achievable.The objectives
of this project were (i) to establish the variation that exists in
the quality of meat from Irish cattle, (ii) to quantify the minimum
variation in meat quality that can be achieved in a practical beef production
system, (iii) to determine the effects and mechanisms of
additional sources of variation.
The conclusions from this project are:
• The M. longissimus dorsi (loin) was found to be more variable
than the M. semimembranosus (topside) for most quality
attributes examined (tenderness, sarcomere length and pH).
The scale of variation within the loin was similar to that
reported by the other research groups within the EU and US.
Heifers were more variable than steers for most attributes,
while there was no consistent classification effect on the
variability of meat quality attributes.
• Tenderness was equally variable in meat from genetically similar
steers, managed similarly, compared to commercial steers
randomly selected from a factory lairage but matched for
weight and grade.This was likely a result of both groups being
crossbred beef cattle of similar age, fat score, carcass weight
and managed identically post-mortem. However, variation in
tenderness of both groups was less than that observed in
a survey of commercial throughput (experiment 1). This
decrease is attributed to better pre-and-post-slaughter handling
practices.
• The data suggest that selection of sires (within a breed) with
better than average conformation has no deleterious effect on the eating quality of beef of their progeny.A more comprehensive
comparison of sires within a breed and between
breeds is required to confirm the generality of this conclusion.
• In a comparison of genotypes, gender and slaughter weights,
there was no evidence that variation around the mean value
for tenderness differed between breeds or liveweights after
14 days ageing. Bulls were more variable than steers for some
quality traits but the variation in tenderness was similar for
bulls and steers after 14 days ageing.
• While optimising the management of animals during the pre
and post-slaughter period reduced variation in tenderness,
some residual variation remained. A large percentage of the
residual variation in tenderness (Warner Bratzler shear force)
after 2 and 7 days post-mortem was explained by proteolysis
(breakdown of myofibrillar proteins).Variation in tenderness
(Warner Bratzler shear force) after 2 days post-mortem was
largely explained by phosphates (energy) and proteolysis,
while sensory tenderness was largely explained by phosphates
and glycolytic potential.
• Further work is required to reduce residual variation in Irish
beef and to determine the causes of this variation
Geotextile behavior relevant to filtering low density suspended organic particles
Presented at the 8th International Geosynthetics Conference. Yokohama, Japan.This paper describes experiments on the feasibility of using geotextiles to filter organics from runoff and combined sewer overflows. A horizontal flow permittivity test apparatus was used as a prototype to test 15cm x 20cm coupons. Non-woven, needle-punched products supported both depth (interior) and cake(surface) filtration modes. Crushed anthracite in the #100-#200 mesh range was used as an inert, replicable analogue of low density, irregularly shaped suspended particles. The AOS detected with this material differs from that measured with standard media, indicating different interaction with the geotextile pore structure.Drag forces maintained a cake on the upstream face of the filter even at low hydraulic gradients. The permittivity decreased as this coating thickened. When flow ceased, the organic cake sloughed off the upstream face of the coupon. Measurements made after several doses showed recovery of much of the original permittivity, with the loss in hydraulic capacity attributed to embedment of particles in the matrix
Theory of Coexistence of Superconductivity and Ferroelectricity : A Dynamical Symmetry Model
We propose and investigate a model for the coexistence of Superconductivity
(SC) and Ferroelectricity (FE) based on the dynamical symmetries for
the pseudo-spin SC sector, for the displaced oscillator FE sector, and
for the composite system. We assume a minimal
symmetry-allowed coupling, and simplify the hamiltonian using a double mean
field approximation (DMFA). A variational coherent state (VCS) trial
wave-function is used for the ground state: the energy, and the relevant order
parameters for SC and FE are obtained. For positive sign of the SC-FE coupling
coefficient, a non-zero value of either order parameter can suppress the other
(FE polarization suppresses SC and vice versa). This gives some support to
"Matthias' Conjecture" [1964], that SC and FE tend to be mutually exclusive.
For such a Ferroelectric Superconductor we predict: a) the SC gap
(and ) will increase with increasing applied pressure when pressure
quenches FE as in many ferroelectrics, and b) the FE polarization will increase
with increaesing magnetic field up to . The last result is equivalent to
the prediction of a new type of Magneto-Electric Effect in a coexistent SC-FE
material. Some discussion will be given of the relation of these results to the
cuprate superconductors.Comment: 46 page
Acute Encephalopathy Associated with Influenza A Infection in Adults
We report acute encephalopathy associated with influenza A infection in 3 adults. We detected high cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma concentrations of CXCL8/IL-8 and CCL2/MCP-1 (CSF/plasma ratios >3), and interleukin-6, CXCL10/IP-10, but no evidence of viral neuroinvasion. Patients recovered without sequelae. Hyperactivated cytokine response may play a role in pathogenesis
Isolated Cervical Dystonia:Diagnosis and Classification
This document presents a consensus on the diagnosis and classification of isolated cervical dystonia (iCD) with a review of proposed terminology. The International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society Dystonia Study Group convened a panel of experts to review the main clinical and diagnostic issues related to iCD and to arrive at a consensus on diagnostic criteria and classification. These criteria are intended for use in clinical research, but also may be used to guide clinical practice. The benchmark is expert clinical observation and evaluation. The criteria aim to systematize the use of terminology as well as the diagnostic process, to make it reproducible across centers and applicable by expert and non-expert clinicians. Although motor abnormalities remain central, increasing recognition has been given to nonmotor manifestations, which are incorporated into the current criteria. Three iCD presentations are described in some detail: idiopathic (focal or segmental) iCD, genetic iCD, and acquired iCD. The relationship between iCD and isolated head tremor is also reviewed. Recognition of idiopathic iCD has two levels of certainty, definite or probable, supported by specific diagnostic criteria. Although a probable diagnosis is appropriate for clinical practice, a higher diagnostic level may be required for specific research studies. The consensus retains elements proven valuable in previous criteria and omits aspects that are no longer justified, thereby encapsulating diagnosis according to current knowledge. As understanding of iCD expands, these criteria will need continuous revision to accommodate new advances.</p
Human Metapneumovirus Detection in Patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
We used a combination approach of conventional virus isolation and molecular techniques to detect human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Of the 48 study patients, 25 (52.1%) were infected with HMPV; 6 of these 25 patients were also infected with coronavirus, and another 5 patients (10.4%) were infected with coronavirus alone. Using this combination approach, we found that human laryngeal carcinoma (HEp-2) cells were superior to rhesus monkey kidney (LLC-MK2) cells commonly used in previous studies for isolation of HMPV. These widely available HEp-2 cells should be included in conjunction with a molecular method for cell culture followup to detect HMPV, particularly in patients with SARS
Loss of functional diversity through anthropogenic extinctions of island birds is not offset by biotic invasions
Human impacts reshape ecological communities through the extinction and introduction of species. The combined impact of these factors depends on whether non-native species fill the functional roles of extinct species, thus buffering the loss of functional diversity. This question has been difficult to address, because comprehensive information about past extinctions and their traits is generally lacking. We combine detailed information about extinct, extant, and established alien birds to quantify historical changes in functional diversity across nine oceanic archipelagos. We found that alien species often equal or exceed the number of anthropogenic extinctions yet apparently perform a narrower set of functional roles as current island assemblages have undergone a substantial and ubiquitous net loss in functional diversity and increased functional similarity among assemblages. Our results reveal that the introduction of alien species has not prevented anthropogenic extinctions from reducing and homogenizing the functional diversity of native bird assemblages on oceanic archipelagos
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