bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Posttraumatic secondary brain insults exacerbates neuronal injury by altering Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors
Authors: Fei Zhou , Zhang Xiang , Bai Hong-min , Jiang Xiao-fan , Li Xia , Zhang Wei , Hu Wei
Published: November 2007

Background

Our previous studies indicated that metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are deeply involved in the secondary processes after diffuse brain injury (DBI). In the present study, we used a rodent DBI model to determine whether hypotension exacerbates neuronal injury as a secondary brain insult (SBI) after traumatic brain injury (TBI) by changing the expression of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) in the cerebral cortex.

Results

Three hundred and eleven male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into five groups: normal control, sham-operated control, SBI alone, DBI alone, or DBI with SBI. DBI was produced in rats by Marmarou's methods and the SBI model was produced by hypotension. The alteration of neuronal expression of mGluRs after DBI and DBI coupled with SBI was observed by hybridization in situ at different time points in the experiment. We found a higher mortality and neurological severity score (NSS) for rats in the DBI with SBI group compared with those in the DBI alone group. Although there was a significant rise in the expression of group I and group III mGluRs (except mGluR6) and a decrease in the expression of group II mGluRs after DBI (P < 0.05), the changes were more severe when DBI was coupled with SBI (P < 0.05). The expression of group I mGluRs peaked at 24 hours, while the expression of the group III mGluRs peaked at 6 hours after injuries, which may reflect a self-protection first mechanism of the damaged neurons. Moreover, the overall neuro-harmful effects of mGluRs on neurons were seemly associated with higher mortality and NSS in the DBI with SBI group.

Conclusion

The results suggest posttraumatic SBI may exacerbate neuronal injury or brain injury by altering expression of mGluRs, and more emphasis should therefore be put on the prevention and treatment of SBI.
The effect of environmental factors on technical and scale efficiency of primary health care providers in Greece
Authors: Kontodimopoulos Nick , Moschovakis Giorgos , Aletras Vassilis H , Niakas Dimitris
Published: November 2007

Background

The purpose of this study was to compare technical and scale efficiency of primary care centers from the two largest Greek providers, the National Health System (NHS) and the Social Security Foundation (IKA) and to determine if, and how, efficiency is affected by various exogenous factors such as catchment population and location.

Methods

The sample comprised of 194 units (103 NHS and 91 IKA). Efficiency was measured with Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) using three inputs, -medical staff, nursing/paramedical staff, administrative/other staff- and two outputs, which were the aggregated numbers of scheduled/emergency patient visits and imaging/laboratory diagnostic tests. Facilities were categorized as small, medium and large (<15,000, 15,000–30,000 and >30,000 respectively) to reflect catchment population and as urban/semi-urban or remote/island to reflect location. In a second stage analysis, technical and scale efficiency scores were regressed against facility type (NHS or IKA), size and location using multivariate Tobit regression.

Results

Regarding technical efficiency, IKA performed better than the NHS (84.9% vs. 70.1%, Mann-Whitney P < 0.001), smaller units better than medium-sized and larger ones (84.2% vs. 72.4% vs. 74.3%, Kruskal-Wallis P < 0.01) and remote/island units better than urban centers (81.1% vs. 75.7%, Mann-Whitney P = 0.103). As for scale efficiency, IKA again outperformed the NHS (89.7% vs. 85.9%, Mann-Whitney P = 0.080), but results were reversed in respect to facility size and location. Specifically, larger units performed better (96.3% vs. 90.9% vs. 75.9%, Kruskal-Wallis P < 0.001), and urban units showed higher scale efficiency than remote ones (91.9% vs. 75.3%, Mann-Whitney P < 0.001). Interestingly 75% of facilities appeared to be functioning under increasing returns to scale. Within-group comparisons revealed significant efficiency differences between the two primary care providers. Tobit regression models showed that facility type, size and location were significant explanatory variables of technical and scale efficiency.

Conclusion

Variations appeared to exist in the productive performance of the NHS and IKA as the two main primary care providers in Greece. These variations reflect differences in primary care organization, economical incentives, financial constraints, sociodemographic and local peculiarities. In all technical efficiency comparisons, IKA facilities appeared to outperform NHS ones irrespective of facility size or location. In respect to scale efficiency, the results were to some extent inconclusive and observed differences were mostly insignificant, although again IKA appeared to perform better.
Burn-induced immunosuppression: attenuated T cell signaling independent of IFN-γ- and nitric oxide-mediated pathways
Authors: Duan Xunbao , Yarmush David , Leeder Avrum , Yarmush Martin L , Mitchell Richard N
Published: November 2007

Burn injury results in immunosuppression; previous work implicated a combination of altered T lymphocyte subpopulations and the elaboration of macrophage-derived mediators. However, the conclusions were based on T cell stimulations in the setting of high-dose polyclonal mitogenic stimuli and a single kinetic time-point. In this study, splenocytes from burned animals were used to examine lymphocyte responses over a multi-day time course following saturating and subsaturating anti-CD3, as well as mixed lymphocyte response (MLR) stimulation. Burn injury resulted in suppressed splenocyte-proliferative responses to high-dose anti-CD3 (2 μg/ml) at all culture time-points (Days 2–5); this inhibition was eliminated by removing macrophages from the splenocyte cultures, by blocking NO production, or by using splenocytes from burned animals congenitally deficient in IFN-γ (IFN-γ−/−). The results are consistent with immunosuppression attributable to burn-induced IFN-γ production, which in turn, drives macrophage NO synthesis (NOS). In MLR cultures, lymphocyte proliferation and IFN-γ production were depressed at later time-points (Days 3–5). APC from burned animals showed no defects as MLR stimulators; T cells from burned animals showed defective, proliferative responses, regardless of the stimulator population. Removing macrophages, adding a NOS inhibitor, or using IFN-γ−/− splenocytes did not restore the MLR response of burned splenocytes. T cells from burned IFN-γ−/− animals also showed depressed proliferation with subsaturating levels of anti-CD3 (0.1 μg/ml); anti-CD-28 augmented the proliferative response. We conclude that burn-induced immunosuppression to authentic antigenic stimulation is related at least in part to defective CD3 signaling pathways and not simply to increased IFN-γ or NO production.
Public Policy Analysis and Conceptual Conservatism
Authors: Gilliatt Stephen
Published: November 2007

The current drift in the analysis of public policy is to devalue the analytical importance of party and politician and to question the capacity of centrally directed administration at the top to order and control policy processes, in ways which can ensure a match between intention and outcome. Instead we are treated to arguments which put increasing stress on what happens after policies are framed, with the search for answers being directed below, to those agencies, private or public, that may or may not pull together to achieve some effect. Attention is focused on the individual officials or professionals who act within these agencies, and who are responsible for interpreting and implementing policy, often according to organizational goals, interests and discretion. It is also judged to be important to place policies in the wider environment, which may set limits or place constraints on action. It is held that the appreciation of such facets is assisted by adopting a theoretical posture, derived chiefly from organizational analysis, which conceptualizes policy making as the result of complex interactions, focuses on the network through which decisions flow and the inter-organizational dependencies at work.
Realities of Neighbourhood Care: The interactions between statutory, voluntary and informal social care
Authors: Abrams Philip
Published: November 2007

In the light of the appreciable ambiguities about the nature of both neighbouring and neighbourhood care, in fact neighbourhood care may not be a very useful focus for analysis at all. The relationships between forms of care in which we are most interested, and between those forms of care and other structures of society, may well best be grasped if we abandon the ‘problem’ of neighbourhood and neighbourliness for the time being and instead redefine our concerns in terms of the distinction proposed by the Wolfenden Committee between the formal and the informal systems of care. Moving away from the essentially spatial references of the notion of neighbourhood towards the more thoroughly social conception implicit in that distinction may be the breakthrough which earlier forays into the maze of definitions of neighbourhood and its related categories seemed to demand. Perhaps we should now approach the matter a different way — by asking in what ways within an overall system of social care the formal and informal sectors could be drawn together in highly localized sites (neighbourhoods) in complementary, mutually supportive relationships.
The Structural Comparison of Social Policy and Intergovernmental Politics
Authors: Ashford Douglas E.
Published: November 2007

Although the development of states providing a wide variety of social services is perhaps the distinguishing feature of modem democratic governance, the available theories of the political transformation inherent in this intricate metamorphosis remain inadequate. Without carefully specifying the requirements of such a theory, it is unlikely that we shall devise one. In this respect, this article is an exercise in what might somewhat pretentiously be called metatheory, that is, it asks what are the characteristics of the problem we wish to study and what are the prerequisites of building a theory that might account for this transformation. Though the list might be extended, three analytical problems confront any developmental theory having claim to comparative validity: first, we need an historical or longitudinal dimension; second, we must remain sensitive to the ease with which causal relationships among social policies can reverse; and, third, there must be a workable or empirical foundation by which we may refute hypotheses drawn from the theory.

Putting aside global theories derived from particular, and often overdetermined, views of history, it is important to see that what is required is a structural theory.
Policy Theory and Policy Practice: An encounter in the field of health service management development
Authors: Ham Chris , Towell David
Published: November 2007

This is the story of an encounter between the worlds of policy theory and policy practice. The venue was the King’s Fund College, London; the participants were ourselves and a group of senior NHS managers. The occasion was the College’s Corporate Management Programme (CMP), a major development in management education launched in 1982. This paper recounts our experience of contributing to the Programme over the last three years. In particular, it sets out how we sought to demonstrate the relevance of a policy analysis perspective to the Programme participants and it reflects on some of the problems we confronted along the way. The paper begins with a brief description of the Programme and goes on to outline the part of the Programme for which we had responsibility, the option on health policy and politics. This is followed by a more detailed consideration of the policy analysis perspective in the Programme. The paper then illustrates how the perspective was applied in practice by Programme participants. Some of the issues involved in teaching and learning in this context are reviewed at the end.
The Political Economy of Employee Investment Funds
Authors: Burkitt Brian
Published: November 2007

‘No man is good enough to be another man’s master’ (William Morris).

Economists frequently describe efficiency and equality as two separate, yet potentially conflicting, objectives. While in some circumstances the achievement of one of these objectives might preclude attaining the other, the evidence suggests that the post-war British economy has suffered a decline in relative efficiency with no progress towards greater equality. Faster growth rates, full employment and higher living standards are most likely to occur as a result of increased and sustained capital formation. The currently dominant economic philosophy of monetarism seeks to satisfy this requirement by redistributing income towards capitalists in the hope that they will then find investment attractive. The British left urgently requires an alternative strategy that generates new investment, while simultaneously establishing an ongoing egalitarian trend. As the political conditions for a revolutionary transformation of society are unlikely to prevail in the foreseeable future, socialist governments need to fulfil three crucial economic objectives:-

(i) to restore full employment while maintaining approximate price stability,

(ii) to accelerate the rate of capital accumulation in order to boost future increases in living standards,

(iii) to redistribute income and wealth in the direction of greater equality without imperilling future economic growth.
The Youth Guarantee in Scandinavia
Authors: Jackson Michael P.
Published: November 2007

The idea of a youth guarantee was discussed in a number of Scandinavian countries in the mid 1970s. In Sweden the idea of an ‘education or employment guarantee’ was raised in a bill put to Parliament by the People’s Party in 1975. At the same time similar ideas were being put forward by other bodies including the Central Party and the Moderate Coalition Party. In 1976 the municipalities were given the responsibility of following the progress of young people under the age of 18 and the Education Ordinance made it clear that the aim was to give young people ‘an opportunity for employment, work experience or training/education’ (National Swedish Board of Education, 1982, p1).

In Norway a youth guarantee was discussed by a committee examining the problems facing young people in a report issued in 1976. The following year the government put forward a ‘youth guarantee’ as a policy objective. In a paper laid before the Norwegian Parliament the government argued that society has a formal responsibility for the transitional phase between education and employment:
The Implications for Enforcement of Lawful Driving Behaviour
Authors: Layzell Andy
Published: November 2007

That there are implications for traffic law enforcement which can be drawn from studying lawful driving behaviour appears at first to be something of a paradox. This paradox results, however, from considering individuals who break traffic regulations as, in some sense, deviants whose behaviour is radically different from that of the majority of the population. The argument put forward in this paper is that in many cases the decision whether or not to commit an unlawful act is based upon an ‘economic’ assessment of the benefits or disbenefits (in the broadest sense) to the individual of committing one or other action. If this approach is adopted it becomes just as pertinent to analyse those factors which may prevent motorists from breaking the law as it is to analyse stated or observed reasons for breaking laws. In policy terms, reinforcing positive attitudes towards the law might be a powerful preventative medicine to be used in conjunction with the more retrospective use of warnings and fines which are used to punish those individuals who do offend.

The number of traffic offences detected and dealt with by warning letters, fixed penalties or court prosecutions totals over five million per year.
From State Direction to Self Regulation: the historical development of corporatism in British agriculture
Authors: Cox Graham , Lowe Philip , Winter Michael
Published: November 2007

The relationship between agriculture and the state is typically presented as corporatist in character, but the detailed content of this relationship remains relatively unexplored. This paper describes the origins of corporatism in the increased state direction of agriculture which emerged during and after the First and Second World Wars. The structures created then provided the basis for a transformation of agriculture’s relations with the state, with the industry assuming greater responsibility for its own regulation. Finally the paper considers current developments which are threatening the corporatist consensus originating in the 1947 Agriculture Act.
Government-Industry Relations: A review article
Authors: Wilks Stephen
Published: November 2007

This article defines government-industry relations by reference to policy processes and charts expansion of interest, takes an eclectic selection of recent studies, assesses strengths and examines the range of theoretical approaches. It stresses developing tendencies towards comparative studies, empirical verification and theoretical innovation.
Japan: the success and limitations of technocratic environmental policy
Authors: Weidner Helmut
Published: November 2007

The recent prediction that Japan could not be prevented from committing ‘ecological hari-kari’ (Gunnarsson, 1974) has not been fulfilled although, on the other hand, Japan is still far from being an ecological paragon. The Japanese people had to suffer terrible experiences owing to the effects of environmental disruption and have still to cope with many unsolved problems. In a tremendous effort to mitigate damage to health and the environment in the wake of uncontrolled industrial growth, the Japanese have, however, developed some internationally unparalleled, and, more importantly, feasible and successful political and technical measures that deserve our full attention.

The Japanese have, particularly in the field of air pollution, demonstrated that a drastic reduction in sulphur dioxide (SO2) air pollution is achievable within a relatively short period of time and without any appreciable negative economic repercussions. The commonplace excuse ‘this may be good for the environment but will not work for the economy’ has been clearly refuted.
Infrared Microspectroscopic Imaging Using a Large Radius Germanium Internal Reflection Element and a Focal Plane Array Detector
Authors: Patterson Brian M. , Havrilla George J. , Marcott Curtis , Story Gloria M.
Published: November 2007

Previously, we established the ability to collect infrared microspectroscopic images of large areas using a large radius hemisphere internal reflection element (IRE) with both a single point and a linear array detector. In this paper, preliminary work in applying this same method to a focal plane array (FPA) infrared imaging system is demonstrated. Mosaic tile imaging using a large radius germanium hemispherical IRE on a FPA Fourier transform infrared microscope imaging system can be used to image samples nearly 1.5 mm × 2 mm in size. A polymer film with a metal mask is imaged using this method for comparison to previous work. Images of hair and skin samples are presented, highlighting the complexity of this method. Comparisons are made between the linear array and FPA methods.
Development of a Thermal Evaporation Cell for Gas-Phase Infrared Absorption Spectroscopy of Compounds with Low Volatility
Authors: Ingram John M. , Fountain Augustus W.
Published: November 2007

To facilitate in-depth hazard prediction models, we must understand the spectral properties of expulsion plumes from conventional weapon attacks. Precise data on the spectral absorption of three chemical weapon agent simulants, in the infrared regime, are required to properly determine the mass of simulant in expulsion plumes from field demonstrations and small scale tests. Data for triethyl phosphate (a Soman simulant), triethyl phosphite (a Sarin simulant), and tributyl phosphate (a VX simulant) are presented. A thermal evaporation cell was designed and built that incorporated features that are not commercially available.
Raman Spectroscopic Measurement of Relative Concentrations in Mixtures of Oral Bacteria
Authors: Zhu Qingyuan , Quivey Robert G. , Berger Andrew J.
Published: November 2007

Near-infrared Raman spectroscopy has been used for species identification of pure microbial specimens for more than a decade. More recently, this optical method has been extended to the analysis of specimens containing multiple species. In this report, we demonstrate rapid, reagent-free quantitative analysis of a simplified model of oral plaque containing three oral bacteria species, S. mutans, S. sanguis, and S. gordonii, using near-infrared Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectra were acquired from bacterial mixtures in 200 seconds. A prediction model was calibrated by the partial least squares method and validated by additional samples. On a scale from 0 to 1, relative fractions of each species could be predicted with a root mean square error of 0.07. These results suggest that near-infrared Raman spectroscopy is potentially useful in quantification of microbial mixtures in general and oral plaques in particular.
Spectral Characterization of Eucalyptus Wood
Authors: Popescu Carmen-Mihaela , Popescu Maria-Cristina , Singurel Ghita , Vasile Cornelia , Argyropoulos Dimitris S. , Willfor Stefan
Published: November 2007

The main difficulties in wood and pulp analyses arise principally from their numerous components with different chemical structures. Therefore, the basic problem in a specific analytical procedure may be the selective separation of the main carbohydrate-derived components from lignin due to their chemical association and structural coexistence. The processing of the wood determines some structural modification in its components depending on the type of wood and the applied procedure. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry and X-ray diffraction have been applied to analyze Eucalyptus g. wood chips and unbleached and chloritebleached pulp. The differences between samples have been established by examination of the spectra of the fractions obtained by successive extraction (acetone extractives, acetone free extractive samples, hemicelluloses, and lignins) by evaluating the derivative spectra, band deconvolution, etc. The energy and the hydrogen bonding distance have been evaluated. The relationship between spectral characteristics and sample composition has been established, as well as the variation of the degree of crystallinity after pulping and bleaching. The integral absorption and lignin/carbohydrate ratios calculated from FT-IR spectra of the IR bands assigned to different bending or stretching in lignin groups are stronger in the spectrum of eucalyptus chips than those from brown stock (BS) pulp spectra because of the smaller total amount of lignin in the latter. FT-IR spectra clearly show that after chlorite bleaching the structure of the wood components is partially modified or removed. Along with FT-IR data, the X-ray results confirmed the low content of lignin in the pulp samples by increasing the calculated values of the crystalline parameters. It was concluded that FT-IR spectroscopy can be used as a quick method to differentiate Eucalyptus globulus samples.
Quantitative Transmission Raman Spectroscopy of Pharmaceutical Tablets and Capsules
Authors: Johansson Jonas , Sparén Anders , Svensson Olof , Folestad Staffan , Claybourn Mike
Published: November 2007

Quantitative analysis of pharmaceutical formulations using the new approach of transmission Raman spectroscopy has been investigated. For comparison, measurements were also made in conventional backscatter mode. The experimental setup consisted of a Raman probe-based spectrometer with 785 nm excitation for measurements in backscatter mode. In transmission mode the same system was used to detect the Raman scattered light, while an external diode laser of the same type was used as excitation source. Quantitative partial least squares models were developed for both measurement modes. The results for tablets show that the prediction error for an independent test set was lower for the transmission measurements with a relative root mean square error of about 2.2% as compared with 2.9% for the backscatter mode. Furthermore, the models were simpler in the transmission case, for which only a single partial least squares (PLS) component was required to explain the variation. The main reason for the improvement using the transmission mode is a more representative sampling of the tablets compared with the backscatter mode. Capsules containing mixtures of pharmaceutical powders were also assessed by transmission only. The quantitative results for the capsules' contents were good, with a prediction error of 3.6% w/w for an independent test set. The advantage of transmission Raman over backscatter Raman spectroscopy has been demonstrated for quantitative analysis of pharmaceutical formulations, and the prospects for reliable, lean calibrations for pharmaceutical analysis is discussed.
Micro-Raman Spectroscopy Study of Colloidal Crystal Films of Polystyrene—Gold Composites
Authors: Djaoued Y. , Badilescu S. , Balaji S. , Seirafianpour N. , Hajiaboli A.-R. , Sadeghian R. Banan , Braedley K. , Brüning R. , Kahrizi M. , Truong Vo-Van
Published: November 2007

Monolayers and multilayers of polystyrene (PS)–gold composite films prepared by two different deposition methods have been investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and confocal Raman microspectroscopy. The intensity of the 1001 cm−1 ring breathing mode of PS is used to evaluate the degree of ordering of monolayers and multilayers within a colloidal crystal. The depth profiling capability of confocal Raman microscopy is used to probe the regions inside the fractures in multilayered films. The intensity profile of the 1001 cm−1 peak revealed the presence of fractures of different shapes with some PS microspheres at the bottom of the fracture. A strong increase in the Raman intensity (by 103 times) has been observed when probing the regions where Au nanoparticles are concentrated in aggregates of different shapes. This enhancement is attributed to the surface plasmons generated by the periodic structure of the gold nanoparticles.
Core Protein—Nucleic Acid Interactions in Hepatitis C Virus as Revealed by Raman and Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy
Authors: Rodríguez-Casado Arantxa , Molina Marina , Carmona Pedro
Published: November 2007

Molecular interactions required for hepatitis C virus (HCV) assembly are not well known and are poorly understood. The 5′ untranslated region (5′UTR) of the RNA genome is highly conserved and has extensive secondary structure, and the highly basic core protein is rich in arginine residues. Using Raman and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopies, specific interactions have been demonstrated here between the 5′UTR sequence and the core protein that may be important for the specific encapsidation of the viral genome during HCV replication. These interactions can be described as follows: (1) hydrogen bonding of arginine with unpaired guanine and/or with wobble GU base pairs, and arginine–phosphate electrostatic contacts; (2) although the percentage of base pairs in the A-form is maintained in 5′UTR, the HCVc-120 protein is β-sheet and α-helix enriched upon formation of protein–5′UTR macromolecular assemblies; (3) protein–5′UTR interactions resulting in protein α-helix formation involve guanine bases in duplex segments. The mentioned interactions may represent novel targets for antiviral strategies against this important virus.
Near-Infrared Analysis of Ground Barley for Use as a Feedstock for Fuel Ethanol Production
Authors: Sohn Miryeong , Himmelsbach David S. , Barton Franklin E. , Griffey Carl A. , Brooks Wynse , Hicks Kevin B.
Published: November 2007

The objective of this study was to explore the potential of near-infrared spectroscopy for determining the compositional quality properties of barley as a feedstock for fuel ethanol production and to compare the prediction accuracy between calibration models obtained using a Fourier transform near-infrared system (FT-NIR) and a dispersive near-infrared system. The total sample set contained 206 samples of three types of barley, hull-less, malt, and hulled varieties, which were grown at various locations in the eastern U.S. from 2002 to 2005 years. A new hull-less barley variety, Doyce, which was specially bred for potential use in ethanol production, was included in the sample set. One hundred and thirty-eight barley samples were used for calibration and sixty-eight were used for validation. Ground barley samples were scanned on both a FT-NIR spectrometer (10000 to 4000 cm−1 at 4 cm−1 resolution) and a dispersive NIR spectrometer (400 to 2498 nm at 10 nm resolution), respectively. Six grain components, moisture, starch, β-glucan, protein, oil, and ash content, were analyzed as parameters of barley quality. Principal component analysis showed that barley samples could be classified by their types: hull-less, malt, and hulled. Partial least squares regression indicated that both FT-NIR and dispersive NIR spectroscopy have the potential to determine quality properties of barley with an acceptable accuracy, except for β-glucan content. There was no predictive advantage in using a high-resolution FT-NIR instrument over a dispersive system for most components of barley.
Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectra in the Infrared Region from 750 to 2000 nm Using a Cooled InGaAs Diode Array Detector
Authors: Radziemski Leon J. , Cremers David A. , Bostian Melissa , Chinni Rosemarie C. , Navarro-Northrup Claudia
Published: November 2007

Emissions from a laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) plasma were examined in the region from 750 nm to 2000 nm. A Nd:YAG laser at 532 nm and 75 mJ per pulse were used to initiate the plasma. The detector was an InGaAs 1024 element diode array cooled to −100 °C. An f/4 spectrometer with gratings blazed for this region was used as the dispersive element. Survey spectra of soils, uranium, and other selected samples were taken in air and in a flow cell purged with argon at a local pressure of 0.84 × 105 Pa. Strong infrared lines of neutral aluminum, carbon, potassium, silicon, sulfur, and uranium, as well as once ionized lines of calcium, were observed out to 1670 nm. For potassium, the detection limits of the infrared (IR) system were compared with those obtained from a standard intensified charge-coupled device (ICCD) spectrometer arrangement, using the 766–770 nm doublet. Detection limits with the IR system were twice as high as those obtained from the ICCD detector.
Photothermal Lens Detection of Gold Nanoparticles: Theory and Experiments
Authors: Brusnichkin Anton V. , Nedosekin Dmitry A. , Proskurnin Mikhail A. , Zharov Vladimir P.
Published: November 2007

An approach for mode-mismatched two-beam (pump–probe) photothermal lens detection of multipoint light-absorbing targets in solution (e.g., gold nanoparticles) is developed for continuous-wave intensity-modulated laser-excitation mode. A description of the blooming of the thermooptical element (thermal lens) upon absorption of the excitation laser radiation is based on the summation of individual thermal waves from multiple heat sources. This description makes it possible to estimate the irregularities of the temperature (and, thus, the refractive index) profile for a discrete number of nanoparticles in the irradiated area and a change in the concentration and particle size parameters. Experimental results are in good agreement with theoretical dependences of the photothermal signal on nanoparticle size and concentration and excitation laser power. Calibration plots for particles from 2 to 250 nm show long linear ranges, limits of detection of gold nanoparticles at the level of hundreds of nanoparticles with the current setup, and the photothermallens sensitivity coefficient increases as a cubic function of particle size. Further improvements are discussed, including increasing the sensitivity thresholds up to one nanoparticle in the detected volume.
Inherited Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: New Selective-Sequencing Workup for α1-Antitrypsin Deficiency Identifies 2 Previously Unidentified Null Alleles
Authors: Prins Janke , van der Meijden Brenda B , Kraaijenhagen Rob J , Wielders Jos P M
Published: November 2007

Background: α1-Antitrypsin (α1AT) deficiency predisposes individuals to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and/or liver disease. Phenotyping of the protein by isoelectric focusing is often used to characterize α1AT deficiency, but this method may lead to misdiagnosis (e.g., by missing null alleles). We evaluated a workup that included direct sequencing of the relevant parts of the gene encoding α1AT, SERPINA1 [serpin peptidase inhibitor, clade A (alpha-1 antiproteinase, antitrypsin), member 1], for patients with α1AT concentrations ≤1.0 g/L.

Methods: During a 5-year period, we identified 66 patients with α1AT concentrations ≤1.0 g/L and amplified and sequenced exons 2, 3, and 5 of the α1AT gene in these patients. To ensure that no relevant genotypes were missed, we sequenced the same exons in 48 individuals with α1AT concentrations between 1.0 and 1.5 g/L.

Results: Sequence analysis revealed 18 patients with combinations of disease-associated α1AT alleles: 8 homozygous for the deficient Z allele and 10 compound heterozygotes for various deficient or null alleles. We identified and named 2 new null alleles, Q0soest (Thr102→delA, which produces a TGA stop signal at codon 112) and Q0amersfoort (Tyr160→stop). No relevant disease-associated allele combinations were missed at a 1.0-g/L threshold.

Conclusions: Up to 22% of the alleles in disease-associated α1AT allele combinations may be missed by conventional methods. Genotyping by direct sequencing of samples from patients with α1AT concentrations ≤1.0 g/L detected these alleles and identified 2 new null alleles.
Avaliação da imunidade celular nos pacientes Co-Infectados pelo vírus da hepatite C e vírus da imunodeficiência humana
Authors: Tovo Cristiane Valle , Santos Diogo Edele dos , Mattos Angelo Zambam de , Mattos Angelo Alves de , Santos Breno Riegel , Galperim Bruno
Published: November 2007

RACIONAL: O estado de ativação imune provocado pelo vírus da hepatite C pode agir deleteriamente em indivíduos portadores do vírus da imunodeficiência humana, favorecendo a destruição mais rápida dos linfócitos CD4. Por outro lado, a recuperação imune observada após o início da terapia antiretroviral pode ser parcialmente embotada em indivíduos co-infectados pelo vírus da hepatite C. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o impacto da co-infecção pelo vírus da hepatite C na imunidade celular dos pacientes infectados pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados pacientes co-infectados por ambos os vírus, atendidos prospectivamente no Ambulatório de Gastroenterologia do Hospital Nossa Senhora da Conceição, Porto Alegre, RS (grupo 1 - 385 pacientes), e monoinfectados pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana cujos dados foram obtidos através da revisão dos prontuários do Serviço de Infectologia do mesmo Hospital (grupo 2 - 198 pacientes). Foram avaliados dados demográficos (gênero, raça, idade), contagem de células CD4 e CD8, relação CD4/CD8 e carga viral do vírus da imunodeficiência humana. O nível de significância adotado foi de 5%. RESULTADOS: Não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa quando avaliados os valores médios da contagem de células CD4 (374,7 ± 215,7 x 357,5 ± 266,0), CD8 (1.512,4 ± 7.274,6 x 986,7 ± 436,4) e da carga viral do vírus da imunodeficiência humana (83.744,2 ± 190.292,0 x 104.464,0 ± 486.880,5), respectivamente nos grupos 1 e 2, bem como na proporção de pacientes com relação CD4/CD8 menor que 1. CONCLUSÃO: A co-infecção por estes vírus não trouxe impacto negativo relevante em relação aos monoinfectados pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana e as características de imunidade foram semelhantes.
Endoscopic laser lithotripsy for complicated bile duct stones: is cholangioscopic guidance necessary?
Authors: Jakobs Ralf , Pereira-Lima Julio C. , Schuch Aline W. , Pereira-Lima Lucas F. , Eickhoff Axel , Riemann Juergen F.
Published: November 2007

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic papillotomy is successful in more than 95% of the cases of choledocholithiasis. For patients with difficult bile duct stones not responding to mechanical lithotripsy, different methods for stone fragmentation have been developed. AIM: To compare the results of laser lithotripsy with a stone-tissue recognizing system, when guided by fluoroscopy only or by cholangioscopy. METHODS: Between 1992 and 2002 we have treated 89 patients with difficult bile duct stones by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and laser lithotripsy. Unsuccessful extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy and electrohydraulic were also performed before laser in 35% and 26% of the cases, respectively. RESULTS: Laser was effective in 79.2% of 72 patients guided by cholangioscopy and in 82.4% of 17 cases steered by fluoroscopy. The median number of impulses in the latter was 4,335 and 1,800 with the former technique. Two parameters influenced the manner of laser guidance. In cases of stones situated above a stricture, cholangioscopic control was more effective (64.7% vs. 31.9%). When the stones were in the distal bile duct, fluoroscopic control was more successful. CONCLUSION: In cases of difficult stones in the distal bile duct, laser lithotripsy under fluoroscopic control is very effective and easily performed. Cholangioscopic guidance should be recommended just in cases of intrahepatic stones or in patients with stones situated proximal to a bile duct stenosis. In these cases, cholangioscopy should be performed either endoscopically or percutaneously.
Triagem sorológica de familiares de pacientes com doença celíaca: anticorpos anti-endomísio, antitransglutaminase ou ambos?
Authors: Utiyama Shirley Ramos da Rosa , Nass Flávia Raphaela , Kotze Lorete Maria da Silva , Nisihara Renato Mitsunori , Ambrosio Altair Rogério , Messias-Reason Iara Taborda de
Published: November 2007

RACIONAL: A doença celíaca representa, na atualidade, a doença intestinal mais comum em populações caucasóides e apresenta prevalência que varia de 8% a 18% nos familiares dos pacientes. A pesquisa dos anticorpos anti-endomísio (EmA-IgA) e antitransglutaminase tecidual (anti-tTG-IgA) constitui importante recurso não-invasivo e sensível de triagem e diagnóstico da doença celíaca em grupos de risco e populações. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a prevalência do EmA e anti-tTG em um grupo de familiares de celíacos e verificar o grau de concordância entre os dois métodos. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 177 familiares (76(feminino); 101(masculino); 2-79 anos) e 93 indivíduos voluntários e sadios (34 (feminino); 59 (masculino); 2-71 anos) como grupo controle. O EmA foi detectado por imunofluorescência indireta (substrato: cordão umbilical humano) e o anti-tTG pelo método de ELISA (kit comercial). RESULTADOS: A positividade total de anticorpos nos familiares em estudo foi de 21% (37/177), mostrando significativa diferença em relação aos controles (0%; 0/93). Doze por cento (21/177) dos familiares foram positivos para o EmA e 13,56% (24/177) para o anti-tTG, sendo 4,52% (8/177) positivos concomitantemente para os dois anticorpos. A concordância de resultados entre os dois métodos foi de 83,6% (148/177) e a discordância de 16,4% (29/177), caracterizando uma correlação positiva significante (r= 0.435) entre ambos. Dentre os concordantes, 79,1% (140/177) eram negativos para o anti-tTG e EmA, e 4,52% (8/177) positivos para ambos. Nos casos discordantes, 7,34% (13/177) apresentaram EmA positivo e anti-tTG negativo e 9,04% (16/177) eram anti-tTG positivo e EmA negativo. CONCLUSÃO: Embora a alta positividade obtida para o EmA e anti-tTG destaque a importância da triagem sorológica em familiares de pacientes com doença celíaca, as discordâncias detectadas no estudo permitem ressaltar que o uso isolado de um único método pode incorrer em reações falso-negativas. O impacto desse fato implica que tais familiares deixarão de ser submetidos a biopsia intestinal para confirmação do diagnóstico da doença, e conseqüentemente, ao tratamento adequado e precoce.
Aspectos biológicos de Sceloenopla bidens, praga de filodendros
Authors: Lourenção André Luiz , Stein Cesar Pagotto , Matthes Luiz Antônio Ferraz
Published: November 2007

Há cerca de dez anos vem sendo observada a presença de Sceloenopla bidens (F., 1792) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Hispinae) em folhas de Philodendron spp., em Campinas e outras localidades paulistas. O adulto permanece na face inferior das folhas, onde se alimenta, causando injúrias características. As larvas criam-se nas folhas, minando-as e comprometendo o aspecto ornamental da planta. Em condições de laboratório, o desenvolvimento do inseto desde ovo até emergência do adulto durou aproximadamente 48 dias. Em Campinas, efetuaram-se observações de seus danos na Floricultura Campineira, em cinco espécies de filodendros presentes - P. melinoni, P. bipinnatifidum, P. erubescens, P. selhom e P. wilsoni e no parque do Instituto Agronômico (IAC), onde a maioria das espécies não se encontra identificada. Em ambos os locais, verificou-se comportamento diferenciado de algumas espécies de filodendros em relação a S. bidens. Não se observou sua alimentação ou presença em outras epífitas dessa família (Araceae), situadas próximo a filodendros infestados, sugerindo possível especificidade da espécie com o gênero Philodendron.
Efeito de diferentes herbicidas na nodulação e na atividade da nitrogenase no amendoim
Authors: Novo Maria do Carmo de Salvo Soares , Cruz Luciano Souza Paes , Martins Antonio Lúcio Mello , Nagaih Violeta , Lombard Maria Luiza Colognesi de Oliveira , Lopes Eli Sidney , Ambrósio Luiz Alberto
Published: November 2007

Em ensaio de herbicidas na cultura do amendoim (Arachis hypogaea L.), realizado em Ribeirão Preto, SP, em 1984/85, sem o uso de inoculante, não foram encontrados nódulos nos diferentes tratamentos. Como é comum sua presença em amendoim nessa região, suspeitou-se que os herbicidas utilizados pudessem ter efeito inibitório na nodulação. Avaliou-se, então, o efeito de alachlor, linuron, oxadiazon, pendimetalin e trifluralin aplicados na dose recomendada, na nodulação e na atividade da nitrogenase, durante dois anos consecutivos, usando-se sementes inoculadas e não inoculadas. Foram feitas amostragens aos 28, 42, 63, 84 e 105 dias após a semeadura, observando-se nodulação abundante, em todos os tratamentos, e reduções ocasionais na nodulação e na fixação do nitrogênio, porém não consistentes nas diversas amostragens. A atividade da população nativa de Rhizobium em geral permaneceu num nível maior do que nos tratamentos com inoculação. Embora alguns herbicidas tenham afetado a nodulação e a fixação do nitrogênio, não houve influência na produção de grãos.
Profundidade do sistema radicular das culturas de feijão e trigo sob pivô central
Authors: Pires Regina Célia de Matos , Arruda Flávio Bussmeyer , Fujiwara Mamor , Sakal Emílio , Bortoletto Nelson
Published: November 2007

O estudo foi realizado na Estação Experimental de Votuporanga, do Instituto Agronômico, em solo podzolizado com as culturas de feijão e trigo irrigadas por pivô central no inverno de 1989. O objetivo for a determinação da profundidade efetiva do sistema radicular, como um dos parâmetros fundamentais no manejo das irrigações. Estas eram realizadas quando a tensão da água no solo atingia 0,05 a 0,06 MPa, controlada por tensiômetro a 15cm de profundidade. Foram feitas três medições quinzenais de raízes em cada cultura, utilizando-se trado tipo caneca de 7cm de diâmetro. As amostragens foram tomadas na linha de plantio, de 10 em 10cm até à profundidade de 60cm. Os resultados indicam que, para o manejo adequado da irrigação, a profundidade do sistema radicular a ser considerada deve ser de 30 e de 40cm, respectivamente, nas culturais de feijão e de trigo no solo em questão.
Melhoramento do trigo: XXV. Avaliação de genótipos oriundos de populações híbridas introduzidas de Oregon (EUA) no Estado de São Paulo
Authors: Camargo Carlos Eduardo de Oliveira , Felício João Carlos , Ferreira Filho Antonio Wilson Penteado , Barros Benedito de Camargo , Freitas José Guilherme de , Pettinelli Júnior Armando , Gallo Paulo Boller , Kanthack Ricardo Augusto Dias
Published: November 2007

Foram comparadas entre si vinte e duas linhagens e três cultivares (BH-1146, IAC-18 e Alondra-S-46) em seis ensaios, instalados nas Estações Experimentais de Tatuí (1985-87) e Mococa (1984), no Centro Experimental de Campinas (1985) e na Fazenda Nossa Senhora da Penha (1986), município de Florínea, em condições de irrigação por aspersão, analisando-se os seguintes parâmetros: rendimento de grãos, características agronômicas e resistência às doenças. Em casa de vegetação, efetuaram-se estudos de resistência às misturas de raças prevalecentes dos agentes causais da ferrugem-do-colmo e da-folha e, em condições de laboratório, estudos da tolerância ao alumínio, em soluções nutritivas. Em solos corrigidos de Tatuí, a linhagem 1 (Novi Sad 738/Bluejay), sensível à toxicidade de Al3+, de porte baixo, ciclo precoce, destacou-se quanto à produção de grãos. Em solo ácido, de Mococa, os cultivares BH-1146 e IAC-18, tolerantes à toxicidade de Al3+, de porte alto e ciclo precoce, foram os mais produtivos. As linhagens 1,3 (Yaktana 54/Norin 10 - Brevor//Narino 59/3/Hyslop/4/CIANO/Gallo) e 19 (Capitole/Bluetit) e os cultivares BH-1146 e IAC-18 destacaram-se quanto à produção de grãos, considerando-se a média dos seis ensaios. As linhagens 2 (Leonardo 23/Bluejay) e 10 (Backa/Alondra) foram resistentes às duas misturas de raças testadas da ferrugem-do-colmo e às três misturas de raças da ferrugem-da-folha, em estádio de plântula, confirmando esta resistência em condições de infecção natural no estádio de planta adulta. A linhagem 2 mostrou-se moderadamente resistente ao oídio. As linhagens 11 (Backa/Alondra), 15 e 21 (Capitole/Bluetit), 16 (Sava/4/Tezanos Pintos Precoz//IRN 46/ClANO/3/Protor) e 17 (Vogel Selection 29/Vogel Selection 59-8881//INIA/CaprocK/3/Cuckoo) foram as mais tolerantes à toxicidade de Al3+, porém num grau menor do que os exibidos pelos cultivares BH-1146 e lAC-18.