Statistical study of the influence of fungicide treatments (mancozeb, zoxamide and copper oxychloride) on heavy metal concentrations in Sicilian red wine

The aim was to assess the influence of mancozeb, zoxamide and copper oxychloride fungicide treatments on Mn, Zn, Cu, Cd and Pb concentrations in Sicilian red wines, grapes, marcs and grape stalks. The experimentation was carried out over two crop years: 2003 and 2004. Trace metals analysis was performed by derivative stripping chronopotentiometry, which allowed detection of concentrations lower than 1 ng g^-1. The data obtained gave evidence that the levels of Mn and Zn in wines from plots treated with zoxamide-mancozeb were about threefold higher than those observed in the control. Wines treated with Cu oxychloride had a significant increase in Cu(II) concentrations with respect to the control; in particular, samples from 2004 showed a 50% increase in Cu levels. Furthermore, as shown in a previous paper, the fungicides treatments studied led to a moderate increase in Pb(II) and Cd(II) levels in treated samples with respect to the control. Wines from 2004 had higher Cu and Pb amounts than wines from 2003; but the concentrations of all the other metals were similar. Statistical analysis of the data by linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and the Kruskal-Wallis test confirmed that both zoxamide-mancozeb treatments and copper oxychloride treatments exerted a significant influence on Mn(II), Zn(II) Cu(II), Pb(II) and Cd(II) concentrations in wines, grapes, marcs and grape stalks samples from both the studied vintages.     

Metabolism and transport of the macrolide immunosuppressant sirolimus in the small intestine

Small intestinal metabolism and transport of sirolimus, a macrolide immunosuppressant with a low and highly variable oral bioavailability, were investigated using small intestinal microsomes and intestinal mucosa in the Ussing chamber. After incubation of sirolimus with human and pig small intestinal microsomes, five metabolites were detected using high performance liquid chromatography/electrospray-mass spectrometry: hydroxy, dihydroxy, trihydroxy, desmethyl and didesmethyl sirolimus. The same metabolites were generated by human liver microsomes and pig small intestinal mucosa in the Ussing chamber. Anti-CYP3A antibodies, as well as the specific CYP3A inhibitors troleandomycin and erythromycin, inhibited small intestinal metabolism of sirolimus, confirming that, as in the liver, CYP3A enzymes are responsible for sirolimus metabolism in the small intestine. Of 32 drugs tested, only known CYP3A substrates inhibited sirolimus intestinal metabolism with inhibitor constants (Ki) equal to those in human liver microsomes. The formation of hydroxy sirolimus by small intestinal microsomes isolated from 14 different patients ranged from 28 to 220 pmol.min-1.mg-1 microsomal protein. In the Ussing chamber, >99% of the sirolimus metabolites reentered the mucosa chamber against a sirolimus gradient, indicating active countertransport. Intestinal drug metabolism and countertransport into the gut lumen, drug interactions with CYP3A substrates and inhibitors in the small intestine and an 8-fold interindividual variability of the intestinal metabolite formation rate significantly contribute to the low and highly variable bioavailability of sirolimus.     

6-k/spl Omega/ 43-Gb/s differential transimpedance-limiting amplifier with auto-zero feedback and high dynamic range

A high-gain, 43-Gb/s InP HBT transimpedance-limiting amplifier (TIALA) with 100-/spl mu/A/sub pp/ sensitivity and 6 mA/sub pp/ input overload current is presented. The circuit also operates as a limiting amplifier with 40-dB differential gain, better than 15-dB input return loss, and a record-breaking sensitivity of 8 mV/sub pp/ at 43 Gb/s. It features a differential TIA stage with inductive noise suppression in the feedback network and consumes less than 450mW from a single 3.3-V supply. The TIALA has 6-k/spl Omega/ (76dB/spl Omega/) differential transimpedance gain and 35-GHz bandwidth and comprises the transimpedance and limiting gain functions, an auto-zero dc feedback circuit, signal level monitor, and slicing level adjust functions. Other important features include 45-dB isolation and 800-mV/sub pp/ differential output.     

Assessing everyday creativity: Characteristics of the Lifetime Creativity Scales and validation with three large samples.

A new research tool, the Lifetime Creativity Scales (LCS), is presented, along with validation evidence based on three personally interviewed, independent samples totalling 541 subjects. The LCS provide broad-based assessment of original activity at work and leisure, without the requirement that activities be socially recognized or limited to particular fields of endeavor. The LCS therefore allow study of everyday creativity in unselected populations, and they open up new research possibilities. The scales show high interrater reliability and multiple indications of construct validity. Findings with the validation samples raise interesting questions, including the relationship between vocational and avocational creativity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The nature of vertical natural convection flows resulting from the combined buoyancy effects of thermal and mass diffusion

This paper concerns the laminar flows which arise in fluids due to the interaction of the force of gravity and density differences caused by the simultaneous diffusion of thermal energy and of chemical species. Species concentration levels are assumed small, as is typical for many processes in water and in atmospheric air. The usual Boussinesq approximations yield a set of equations which are shown to have solutions of similarity form for combined buoyancy effects, for vertical flows adjacent to surfaces and in plumes. This similarity is of the same form as that found for single buoyancy mechanism flows. The resulting equations were integrated for air and water for various practical values of the Schmidt number and for multiple buoyancy effects aiding and opposing. The results show many interesting effects on velocity, heat and mass transfer, and on laminar stability. A comparison of the results with those of integral method analysis shows the limits and reasons for failure of these approximate calculations in the more complicated of such combined buoyancy mechanism flows.     

Early-age behavior of materials with a cement matrix

Materials with a cement matrix classically present early-age volume variations (shrinkage and/or swelling). This intrinsic early-age behavior strongly influences the length of time the buildings and structures will last because of the micro-cracking and cracking that results from it. One explanation for the macroscopic shrinkage is the presence of pore pressure in the porous medium. In this study, fine modeling of the coupling mechanism behind these internal strains is proposed. The chemical reaction associated with hydration is considered as the main force behind the hydric and mechanical evolutions in an endogenous configuration. Thus, the influence of chemical contraction, porosity, pore-size distribution and pore pressure are central to the study in the light of the numerical and experimental results obtained. A self-leveling layer of mortar of sulfo-aluminous concrete base was used.     

Use of sulfoaluminate cement and bottom ash in the solidification/stabilization of galvanic sludge

Solidification/stabilization (S/S) process can improve the physical characteristics of wastes, reduce their leaching and limit the solubility of their heavy metals. The identification of binders able to assume the fixation of contaminants is essential for the success of the technique. In this study, calcium sulfoaluminate cement was added to another waste, bottom ash, in order to treat galvanic sludge. The properties of the resultant solid matrix (MS) were determined: setting time, compressive strength and products of hydration. Solid matrix composed of 77% waste and only 23% cement presented initial setting time lower than 4 h and 28 day-strength of 6 MPa. SEM investigations showed that contaminants present in the galvanic sludge (Cr) were encapsulated in the hydrated phases and particles of bottom ash.