UNIAXIAL COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH, DRY UNIT WEIGHT AND FRACTURE PATTERNS OF ULTRABASIC ROCKS IN OTHRYS MOUNTAIN (CENTRAL GREECE): CORRELATIONS AND EVALUATION

Στη παρούσα δημοσίευση μελετούνται τα υπερβασικά πετρώματα από την περιοχή της Όθρυος (Στερεά Ελλάδα). Η γεωλογική δομή και η τεκτονική της εξεταζόμενης περιοχής περιγράφοντα συνοπτικά. Οι αντοχές σε ανεμπόδιστη μονοαξονική θλίψη και τα φαινόμενα βάρη υπολογίζονται και οι γωνίες θραύσης μετρούνται. Τα αποτελέσματα αξιολογούνται στατιστικά και παρουσιάζονται εμπειρικές σχέσεις μεταξύ της αντοχής σε μονοαξονική θλίψη και του φαινόμενου βάρους. Εξαιτίας του χαμηλού συντελεστή συσχέτισης στους Σερπεντινιωμένους Περιδοτίτες, αποφασίσαμε οι Σερπεντινιωμένοι Περιδοτίτες και οι Σερπεντινίτες να εξεταστούν μαζί. Ο νέος συντελεστής συσχέτισης είναι πολύ μεγαλύτερος από τον προηγούμενο Επιπλέον, στην παρούσα δημοσίευση φαίνεται πως η πλειοψηφία των υπερβασικών πετρωμάτων θραύεται σε μια μόνο γωνία (φ°), η οποία κυμαίνεται κυρίως μεταξύ 75° και 90°, ενώ γίνεται και συσχετισμός των γωνιών θραύσης με την τεκτονική. Οι όποιες αποκλίσεις παρατηρήθηκαν αποδίδονται στην πετρογραφική ποικιλία, στη δομική πολυπλοκότητα, στον προτιμητέο προσανατολισμό του ολιβίνη και του ορθοπυρόξενου και στην εσωτερικά αποτυπωμένη τεκτονική παραμόρφωση.Ultrabasic rocks, taken from the Othrys mt. (Central Greece), are studied in this paper. The structural geology and tectonics of the study area are described. Uniaxial Compressive Strength (UCS) and dry unit weight (γ) values are calculated and fracture angles are measured. The results are statistically assessed and empirical relationships (exponential equations) between UCS and γ are presented for the ultrabasic roch, divided in Peridotites, Serpentinised Peridotites and Serpentinites. Due to the low correlation coefficient of the Serpentinised Peridotites, it was decided that the Serpentinised Peridotites and Serpentinites should be examined together. The correlation coefficient of the combined category is much better than the separate ones. Furthermore, this paper demonstrates that the majority of the ultrabasic rocks tested were breaking at one angle (φ°), which mainly fluctuated between 75° and 90°. The fracture angles correlate with previously recognised geological (mainly tectonic) structures. The observed deviations are due to pétrographie variety, structural complexity, preferred orientation of olivine and orthopyroxene and internal imprinted tectonic deformation

Molecular epidemiology of Plasmodium vivax anti-folate resistance in India

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Sulphadoxine and pyrimethamine are anti-folate drugs that show synergistic anti-malarial effect. Point mutations in <it>dihydrofolate reductase </it>(<it>dhfr</it>) and <it>dihydropteorate synthatase </it>(<it>dhps</it>) cause anti-folate drug resistance phenotype in human malaria parasites. This study presents pattern of point mutations in <it>dhfr/dhps </it>genes among Indian sub-continent.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Microscopically diagnosed one hundred <it>Plasmodium vivax </it>field isolates were collected from five widely separated geographical regions of India. <it>Dhfr </it>and <it>dhps </it>genes were PCR amplified and sequenced. Previously published mutations data were collected and analyzed using Chi square test to identify geographical cluster of mutant/wild type genotypes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Sequence analysis revealed single (S58R), double (S58R/S117N) and quadruple (F57L/S58R/T61M/S117T/) point mutations at <it>dhfr </it>and single (A383G) to double (A383G/A553G) mutations at <it>dhps </it>in <it>P. vivax </it>field isolates. In addition, three new mutations were also observed at <it>dhfr</it>. Both, <it>dhfr </it>and <it>dhps </it>genes revealed tandem repeat variations in field isolates. <it>Dhps </it>revealed very low mutation frequency (14.0%) compared to <it>dhfr </it>(50.70%). Comparative analysis revealed a progressive increase in frequency of quadruple mutant <it>dhfr </it>genotype (p < 0.001) within five years in north-eastern state (Kamrup, Assam). Frequency of <it>dhfr </it>genotypes revealed three distinct geographical clusters of wild (northern India), double mutant (southern India), and quadruple mutant (north-eastern and island regions of India) on the Indian sub-continent.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Study suggests that SP may be susceptible to <it>P. vivax </it>in India, except Andaman and north-eastern state. The distinction of geographical regions with sensitive and resistant parasite phenotypes would be highly useful for designing and administering national anti-malarial drug policy.</p

Fast screening method for wine headspace compounds using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and capillary GC technique

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for determination of volatile wine components. This combination offers a simple, quick, and sensitive approach suitable for characterization of wine aroma compounds without a complicated sample preparation procedure. Wines are characterized by "aromagrams", a set of identified components with corresponding relative abundances. Reproducibility (RSD errors of relative peak abundances) due to the analytical procedure are ca. 4%; variations among different samples of the same type of wine from the same region are ca. 8%. SPME-GC(-MS) has been shown to yield far larger differences among different wine types (Chardonnay, Muscat Ottonel, and Tramini) and among the same type of wine produced in different regions, showing the utility of the technique in wine analysis

Examining the Delivery Mode of Mental Practice in Reducing Hemiparesis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Mental Practice (MP) is an effective intervention to address upper extremity (UE) hemiparesis post-stroke. However, parameters for the delivery mode of MP have not been defined. Therefore, this study\u27s purpose was to define delivery mode parameters by comparing the effectiveness of audio-guided and video-guided MP. Method: Eighteen participants, \u3c 1-month post-stroke, with UE hemiparesis were randomized to a MP, repetitive task practice (RTP) or control group. The MP groups performed audio-guided or video-guided MP, 5x/week. The RTP group physically performed the functional tasks. The control group received traditional stroke rehabilitation. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA-UE) and Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) were used to assess change in UE hemiparesis. Results: Wilcoxon signed-rank test demonstrated audio MP increased FMA-UE scores from pretest (Mdn = 34.0, Mean = 34.0, SD =9.56) to posttest (Mdn = 49.0, Mean = 49.6, SD =7.5), p = .042, r = .64. Similar improvement in FMA-UE scores was found with traditional therapy. Audio MP decreased WMFT time, pretest (Mdn = 10.5, Mean = 49.9, SD = 59.1) to posttest (Mdn = 4.1, Mean = 3.5, SD = 1.4), p =.043, r =.63. Conclusion: Audio MP and traditional therapy appear to decrease impairment and increase the functional abilities of the UE following stroke. Video MP and RTP does not have this effect

Assessment of therapeutic efficacy of chloroquine and sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine in uncomplicated falciparum malaria

A standardised protocol has been developed by World Health Organization (CDS/RBM/2002) toassess the efficacy of common antimalarials in the treatment of clinically manifested infection withuncomplicated P. falciparum malaria for areas with low to moderate transmission. The therapeuticefficacy protocol is based on clinical and parasitological responses of the patients and it has thepurpose of determining the practical efficacy of the drug regimen in study areas with the ultimateobjective of ascertaining its continued usefulness or the necessity for replacing it in the routinetreatment. Present study has been conducted at seven sites—Kathiatali and Simonabasti of DistrictNowgaon, Assam; Sonapur and Boko of District Kamrup, Assam; Keonjhar Town, Padampur andBasudebpur of District Keonjhar, Orissa. In order to reduce the patient recruitment time, health centreclose to well-defined community was identified to conduct the activities at peak malaria seasonby selecting local pockets and organising mobile clinics. Microscopically confirmed cases of P. falciparumwere enrolled according to the criteria for inclusion and exclusion. Treatment with recommendeddrug was given under supervision and a follow-up schedule at various intervals for 28days was maintained. In chloroquine (CQ) study areas, wherever patients showed treatment failure,they were treated with second line drug—sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) combination and thenfollowed-up as per study protocol. It was observed that 30% cases showed treatment failure to CQin District Nowgaon, where revised drug policy has already been introduced. In Kamrup district,treatment failure with CQ was found to be less than 25%, which denotes the said regimen is still effective.Almost all the patients from Padampur and Basudebpur of District Keonjhar responded toCQ, treatment failure was noticed only in two patients (3%). The antifolate combination found to befully effective as second line and also as first line wherever revised drug policy has been introduced

Plasmodium vivax lineages: geographical distribution, tandem repeat polymorphism, and phylogenetic relationship

Background: Multi-drug resistance and severe/ complicated cases are the emerging phenotypes of vivax malaria, which may deteriorate current anti-malarial control measures. The emergence of these phenotypes could be associated with either of the two Plasmodium vivax lineages. The two lineages had been categorized as Old World and New World, based on geographical sub-division and genetic and phenotypical markers. This study revisited the lineage hypothesis of P. vivax by typing the distribution of lineages among global isolates and evaluated their genetic relatedness using a panel of new mini-satellite markers. Methods: 18S SSU rRNA S-type gene was amplified from 420 Plasmodium vivax field isolates collected from different geographical regions of India, Thailand and Colombia as well as four strains each of P. vivax originating from Nicaragua, Panama, Thailand (Pak Chang), and Vietnam (ONG). A mini-satellite marker panel was then developed to understand the population genetic parameters and tested on a sample subset of both lineages. Results: 18S SSU rRNA S-type gene typing revealed the distribution of both lineages (Old World and New World) in all geographical regions. However, distribution of Plasmodium vivax lineages was highly variable in every geographical region. The lack of geographical sub-division between lineages suggests that both lineages are globally distributed. Ten mini-satellites were scanned from the P. vivax genome sequence; these tandem repeats were located in eight of the chromosomes. Mini-satellites revealed substantial allelic diversity (7-21, AE = 14.6 +/- 2.0) and heterozygosity (He = 0.697-0.924, AE = 0.857 +/- 0.033) per locus. Mini-satellite comparison between the two lineages revealed high but similar pattern of genetic diversity, allele frequency, and high degree of allele sharing. A Neighbour-Joining phylogenetic tree derived from genetic distance data obtained from ten mini-satellites also placed both lineages together in every cluster. Conclusions: The global lineage distribution, lack of genetic distance, similar pattern of genetic diversity, and allele sharing strongly suggested that both lineages are a single species and thus new emerging phenotypes associated with vivax malaria could not be clearly classified as belonging to a particular lineage on basis of their geographical origin

Growth inhibitory and adjuvant therapeutic potential of aqueous extract of Triticum aestivum on MCF-7 and HeLa cells

Aim: The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the potent growth inhibitory effects of aqueous wheatgrass extract (AWE) alone and in combination with cisplatin on human breast and cervical cancer cells. Materials and Methods: The cytotoxic potential of AWE alone and in combination with cisplatin was evaluated on human breast and cervical cancer cells (MCF-7 and HeLa) by cell viability assay. Further, the mode of cell death induced by AWE was determined by nuclear morphological examination and cell cycle analysis. These effects were then correlated with the expression of genes involved in apoptosis and proliferation (cyclin D1 and Bax) by RT-PCR. Results: AWE showed dose- and time dependent selective cytotoxicity towards the cancerhighlighting its safe profile. Lower dose combinations of AWE and cisplatin induced increased growth inhibition compared with the individual drugs on both cell lines (combination index < 1) indicating strong synergistic interactions. AWE was found to induce apoptosis and arrested the cells at G0–G1 phase of the cell cycle which correlated with the modulation of expression of bax and cyclin D1 in a time-dependent manner in MCF-7 and HeLa cells. Conclusion: These results suggest that the anti-cancer potential of AWE may be due to apoptosis induction and its anti-proliferative properties. This study also provides the first evidence demonstrating synergism between AWE and cisplatin, which may enhance the therapeutic index of prevention and/or treatment of human breast and cervical cancer. Key Words: Bax, cisplatin, combination, cyclin D1, synergistic, wheatgrass

Human Analogue Safe Haven Effect of the Owner : Behavioural and Heart Rate Response to Stressful Social Stimuli in Dogs

The secure base and safe haven effects of the attachment figure are central features of the human attachment theory. Recently, conclusive evidence for human analogue attachment behaviours in dogs has been provided, however, the owner’s security-providing role in danger has not been directly supported. We investigated the relationship between the behavioural and cardiac response in dogs (N = 30) while being approached by a threatening stranger in separation vs. in the presence of the owner, presented in a balanced order. Non-invasive telemetric measures of heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) data during the threatening approaches was compared to periods before and after the encounters. Dogs that showed distress vocalisation during separation (N = 18) and that growled or barked at the stranger during the threatening approach (N = 17) were defined as behaviourally reactive in the given situation. While characteristic stress vocalisations were emitted during separations, the absence of the owner did not have an effect on dogs’ mean HR, but significantly increased the HRV. The threatening approach increased dogs’ mean HR, with a parallel decrease in the HRV, particularly in dogs that were behaviourally reactive to the encounter. Importantly, the HR increase was significantly less pronounced when dogs faced the stranger in the presence of the owner. Moreover, the test order, whether the dog encountered the stranger first with or without its owner, also proved important: HR increase associated with the encounter in separation seemed to be attenuated in dogs that faced the stranger first in the presence of their owner. We provided evidence for human analogue safe haven effect of the owner in a potentially dangerous situation. Similarly to parents of infants, owners can provide a buffer against stress in dogs, which can even reduce the effect of a subsequent encounter with the same threatening stimuli later when the owner is not present

Reading faces: differential lateral gaze bias in processing canine and human facial expressions in dogs and 4-year-old children

Sensitivity to the emotions of others provides clear biological advantages. However, in the case of heterospecific relationships, such as that existing between dogs and humans, there are additional challenges since some elements of the expression of emotions are species-specific. Given that faces provide important visual cues for communicating emotional state in both humans and dogs, and that processing of emotions is subject to brain lateralisation, we investigated lateral gaze bias in adult dogs when presented with pictures of expressive human and dog faces. Our analysis revealed clear differences in laterality of eye movements in dogs towards conspecific faces according to the emotional valence of the expressions. Differences were also found towards human faces, but to a lesser extent. For comparative purpose, a similar experiment was also run with 4-year-old children and it was observed that they showed differential processing of facial expressions compared to dogs, suggesting a species-dependent engagement of the right or left hemisphere in processing emotions