Toolbox from the EC FP7 HOSANNA project for the reduction of road and rail traffic noise in the outdoor environment

yesThis paper offers a brief overview of innovative methods for road and rail traffic noise reduction between source and receiver. These include using new barrier designs, planting of trees, treatments of ground and road surfaces and greening of building façades and roofs using natural materials, like vegetation, soil and other substrates in combination with recycled materials and artificial elements. The abatements are assessed in terms of numerically predicted sound level reductions, perceptual effects and cost–benefit analysis. Useful reductions of noise from urban roads and tramways are predicted for 1-m-high urban noise barriers and these are increased by adding inter-lane barriers. A 3 m wide 0.3 m high lattice ground treatment, a carefully planted 15-m-wide tree belt and replacing 50 m of paved areas by grassland are predicted to give similar reductions. Tree belts are shown to be very cost-effective and combining tall barriers with a row of trees reduces the negative impact of wind. Green roofs may significantly reduce the noise at the quiet side of buildings

Effect of pentagastrin on the reactivity of isolated canine blood vessels.

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Involvement of nitric oxide in the inhibitory innervation of the human isolated colon

BACKGROUND: The exact nature of the inhibitory nonadrenergic noncholinergic (NANC) neurotransmitter in the human colon is still unknown. METHODS: The present study was designed to investigate the role of nitric oxide (NO) and adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) in circular muscle strips of the human isolated colon. RESULTS: NO and ATP induced tetrodoloxin-resistant relaxations that mimicked those evoked by nerve stimulation. Apamin inhibited the response to ATP, had a variable effect on the relaxations to transmural stimulation, and had no effect on those to NO or nitroglycerin. NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) concentration dependently reduced the NANC nerve-mediated relaxations, but had no effect on those to ATP, NO, or nitroglycerin; the L-NNA resistant part of the NANC relaxation to nerve stimulation was further reduced by apamin. The inhibitory effect of L-NNA or the combination of L-NNA and apamin was prevented by L-arginine but not by D-arginine. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that NO and another substance, perhaps ATP, are involved in the inhibitory NANC neurotransmission in the circular muscle of the human colo

Transrectal ultrasonography in Crohn's disease

En gastro-entérologie, l'ultrasonographie transrectale est un examen de premier choix dans la stadification des tumeurs anorectales. Dans la maladie de Crohn, l'ultrasonographie transrectale a mis en évidence des abcès et des fistules méconnus par les examens proctologiques. En outre, l'examen sonographique a détecté des anomalies de la paroi rectale et du sphincter anal. Ces anomalies peuvent précéder les lésions muqueuses (superficielles) et persister pendant la phase de guérison. La détection précoce des lésions anorectales dans la maladie de Crohn devrait faciliter un traitement rapide et adéqua