Development of an on-line analyzer for organic anaesthetics in inspiratory and end-tidal gases

An analyzer for measuring the concentrations of volatile organic anaesthetic agents in inspiratory and end-tidal gases has been constructed. Respiratory gas from an anaesthetized patient is led continuously through a heated capillary transport tube (length 5.7 m, I.D. 0.25 mm) to a hydrogen flame-ionization detector. The pressure drop across the capillary tube necessary to transport the gas is applied by operating the detector at reduced pressure. The ionization current, caused by the organic anaesthetic agent in the detector, is measured with an electrometer amplifier. The transport time, at an optimal pressure drop of 600 mm Hg, is 4.3 sec, and the flow-rate of respiratory gas in the tube is then 3.9 ml/min. The time constant of the system is 0.2 sec. It is shown that mixing between successive inspiratory and expiratory samples can be neglected. The use of the system is demonstrated by two examples. Firstly, the end-tidal concentration of diethyl ether during the wash-out after a combined intravenous infusion-inhalation anaesthesia was measured. Secondly, the analyzer was used during experiments to measure the ventilation:perfusion ratio by administration of small concentration of halothane

Using eggshell membranes as a DNA source for population genetic research

In the context of population genetic research, a faster and less invasive method of DNA sampling would allow large-scale assessments of genetic diversity and genetic differentiation with the help of volunteer observers. The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of eggshell membranes as a DNA source for population genetic research, by addressing eggshell membrane DNA quality, degeneration and cross-contamination. To this end, a comparison was made with blood-derived DNA samples. We have demonstrated 100% successful DNA extraction from post-hatched Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) eggshell membranes as well as from blood samples. Using 11 microsatellite loci, DNA amplification success was 99.1% for eggshell membranes and 97.7% for blood samples. Genetic information within eggshell membrane DNA in comparison to blood DNA was not affected (F-ST = -0.01735, P = 0.999) by degeneration or possible cross-contamination. Furthermore, neither degeneration nor cross-contamination was apparent in total genotypic comparison of eggshell membrane DNA and blood sample DNA. Our research clearly illustrates that eggshell membranes can be used for population genetic research

Development of an on-line analyzer for organic anaesthetics in inspiratory and end-tidal gases

An analyzer for measuring the concentrations of volatile organic anaesthetic agents in inspiratory and end-tidal gases has been constructed. Respiratory gas from an anaesthetized patient is led continuously through a heated capillary transport tube (length 5.7 m, I.D. 0.25 mm) to a hydrogen flame-ionization detector. The pressure drop across the capillary tube necessary to transport the gas is applied by operating the detector at reduced pressure. The ionization current, caused by the organic anaesthetic agent in the detector, is measured with an electrometer amplifier. The transport time, at an optimal pressure drop of 600 mm Hg, is 4.3 sec, and the flow-rate of respiratory gas in the tube is then 3.9 ml/min. The time constant of the system is 0.2 sec. It is shown that mixing between successive inspiratory and expiratory samples can be neglected. The use of the system is demonstrated by two examples. Firstly, the end-tidal concentration of diethyl ether during the wash-out after a combined intravenous infusion-inhalation anaesthesia was measured. Secondly, the analyzer was used during experiments to measure the ventilation:perfusion ratio by administration of small concentration of halothane

Genetic patterns of Black-tailed Godwit populations and their implications for conservation

The aim of this thesis was to investigate long term population dynamic processes in Black-tailed Godwit populations resulting from habitat fragmentation on three different spatial scales by using genetics. We demonstrated that egg shell membranes provide a good alternative DNA source for population genetic studies compared to blood samples. Through the usage of egg shell membranes we could conduct the genetic studies in this thesis a large spatial scales. Genetic population structuring was studied here because Black-tailed Godwit breeding areas seemed geographically fragmented and it was unclear if this had led to genetic separation and inbreeding as well. On a local scale we did not detect any genetic populations structuring as an effect of habitat fragmentation. We showed that habitat fragmentation, although geographically visible, has not yet lead to genetic differences between Dutch breeding populations. As such it seems that Dutch breeding areas of the Black-tailed Godwit consist of a single panmictic population. On a global scale this thesis confirmed the presence of three genetically distinct groups now recognized as subspecies. However, no clear genetic differences were found between L. l. limosa across most of its current breeding range. Possibly, there is some genetic differentiation between L. l. limosa breeding areas in the Netherlands and Sweden.Conservation Biolog

Classification of radical hysterectomy adopted by the Gynecological Cancer Group of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer

The Piver classification of radical hysterectomy for the treatment of cervical cancer is outdated and misused. The Surgery Committee of the Gynecological Cancer Group of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) produced, approved, and adopted a revised classification. It is hoped that at least within the EORTC participating centers, a standardization of procedures is achieved. The clinical indications of the new classification are discussed

Bacterial abundance and pH associate with eDNA degradation in water from various aquatic ecosystems in a laboratory setting

Environmental Biolog

The particle size distribution of environmental DNA varies with species and degradation

Environmental Biolog

Wacana Kritis Berita Online Kasus Penyadapan Pembicaraan Telepon Elit Indonesia oleh Agen Rahasia Australia

News on online portal has advantages over news on conventional media in constructing reality and affecting the audiences. This research aims to analyze online text news about Indonesian\u27s political elites phone-tapping by Australian intelligence agency in Indonesian and Australian online news portal. This research uses text analyzing technique with interpretative explanation application. Data collection were done by observation on four online news portals, and then continued by data selection in the form of related news text. This news text is acquaired by using search engine in the internet. Collected data then being analyzed using Van Dijk Critical Discourse Analysis to apprehend the social discourses constructed by the online news portals, ideologies behind it, and the impact of those news publication on Indonesia-Australia diplomatic relationship. The results of this research indicates that there is a difference in discourses between Australia and Indonesia\u27s online news portal regarding the phone-tapping of Indonesia\u27s political elites by the Australian intelligence agency. Reality construction which is built by those news portals shows some differences, caused by disparities of press system and communication cultures between the two nations. Besides that, media ideologies also affects that phone-tapping publication. Those news publication in the process inflicts reaction on the people of the two nations, which affects the diplomatic relations between the two country

A theoretical study of the response of vascular tumours to different types of chemotherapy

In this paper we formulate and explore a mathematical model to study continuous infusion of a vascular tumour with isolated and combined blood-borne chemotherapies. The mathematical model comprises a system of nonlinear partial differential equations that describe the evolution of the healthy (host) cells, the tumour cells and the tumour vasculature, coupled with distribution of a generic angiogenic stimulant (TAF) and blood-borne oxygen. A novel aspect of our model is the presence of blood-borne chemotherapeutic drugs which target different aspects of tumour growth (cf. proliferating cells, the angiogenic stimulant or the tumour vasculature). We run exhaustive numerical simulations in order to compare vascular tumour growth before and following therapy. Our results suggest that continuous exposure to anti-proliferative drug will result in the vascular tumour being cleared, becoming growth-arrested or growing at a reduced rate, the outcome depending on the drug’s potency and its rate of uptake. When the angiogenic stimulant or the tumour vasculature are targeted by the therapy, tumour elimination can not occur: at best vascular growth is retarded and the tumour reverts to an avascular form. Application of a combined treatment that destroys the vasculature and the TAF, yields results that resemble those achieved following successful treatment with anti-TAF or anti-vascular therapy. In contrast, combining anti-proliferative therapy with anti-TAF or antivascular therapy can eliminate the vascular tumour. In conclusion, our results suggest that tumour growth and the time of tumour clearance are highly sensitive to the specific combinations of anti-proliferative, anti-TAF and anti-vascular drugs

Relating ASD symptoms to well-being:Moving across different construct levels

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the specific factors that contribute to the well-being (WB) of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A plausible hypothesis is that ASD symptomatology has a direct negative effect on WB. In the current study, the emerging tools of network analysis allow to explore the functional interdependencies between specific symptoms of ASD and domains of WB in a multivariate framework. We illustrate how studying both higher-order (total score) and lower-order (subscale) representations of ASD symptomatology can clarify the interrelations of factors relevant for domains of WB. METHODS: We estimated network structures on three different construct levels for ASD symptomatology, as assessed with the Adult Social Behavior Questionnaire (item, subscale, total score), relating them to daily functioning (DF) and subjective WB in 323 adult individuals with clinically identified ASD (aged 17-70 years). For these networks, we assessed the importance of specific factors in the network structure. RESULTS: When focusing on the highest representation level of ASD symptomatology (i.e. a total score), we found a negative connection between ASD symptom severity and domains of WB. However, zooming in on lower representation levels of ASD symptomatology revealed that this connection was mainly funnelled by ASD symptoms related to insistence on sameness and experiencing reduced contact and that those symptom scales, in turn, impact different domains of WB. CONCLUSIONS: Zooming in across construct levels of ASD symptom severity into subscales of ASD symptoms can provide us with important insights into how specific domains of ASD symptoms relate to specific domains of DF and WB