Changes in proton currents in murine microglia induced by cytoskeletal disruptive agents

The sera of 385 buffaloes of different age and sex, collected from the various areas of the Khoozestan province, Iran, were tested by the IFA test, from April 1995 to February 1996. The results indicated 8.8% (34 out of 385) buffaloes had anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies titered 1:16 and more. The infection rate of buffaloes under the age of a year, above a year female, and male were 10.8%, 4.7%, 12.1%, and 5.3%, respectively.     

Modelling of boron nitride: Atomic scale simulations on thin film growth

Molecular-dynamics simulations on ion-beam deposition of boron nitride are presented. A realistic Tersoff-like potential energy functional for boron nitride, which was specially fitted to ab initio-data, has been used. The impact of energetic boron and nitrogen atoms on a c-BN target is simulated with energies ranging from 10 to 600 eV. The structural analysis of the grown films shows that a loose, dominantly sp²-bonded structure arises at high ion flux. In no case the formation of a sp³-bonded phase is observed, but the obtained films partially reveal textured basal planes as found in experiment. Two different growth regimes are identified for ion energies above and below 100 eV.     

Impairment and disability: their relation during stroke rehabilitation

Migration of non-volatile and volatile compounds from 'microwave and roasting bags' (MRB), made of Nylon 6,6 (and some Nylon 6), into chicken meat, skin, and juices during roasting (200 degrees C/2 h) in a conventional oven was determined. For measurement of migration of non-volatile compounds, cooked chicken was freeze-dried, extracted with methanol after addition of 2-azacyclononane (internal standard) and the extract cleaned-up using liquid-solid adsorption chromatography (silica gel). High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in the reverse phase mode using a linear gradient of methanol in water was used to quantify seven Nylon 6 and Nylon 6,6 cyclic monomers and oligomers of molecular mass up to 678 daltons. Migration into chicken was 7.48 micrograms/g (8.26 mg/bag; 3.94 micrograms/cm2), 16% of the total non-volatile compounds contained in the MRB material. Individual migrants were also quantified. Migration of one volatile compound, 2-cyclopentyl cyclopentanone, into the roast chicken parts was measured. Extraction with diethyl ether, using a modified Likens-Nickerson system of concurrent steam distillation-solvent extraction with an internal standard (cyclohexanone) was performed for 10 h. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in the selected ion mode (SIM) was used for quantification. An average of 14.0 (+/- 4.36) micrograms/bag (or micrograms/chicken) migrated, being 0.08% of the total 2-cyclopentyl cyclopentanone present in MRB. Loss of volatile compounds to the atmosphere is believed to have occurred since there was another, more volatile compound (cyclopentanone), present in MRB, at levels higher than 2-cyclopentyl cyclopentanone, but this was not detected in roast chicken. In general, the transference of MRB components into roast chicken can be considered not to present a hazard.     

Effects of the PIPC model on outcome measures of productivity and costs

The purpose of this experimental research was to determine the effects of the Partners in Care Practice Model (PIPC) on the outcomes of productivity and costs. Over an 18-month study period, no significant differences were found in costs per patient day between the pilot and control units; however, significant differences were found in actual salaries, amount of time spent in documentation, and supply costs. Differences in costs and productivity reflected increased training costs and costs for additional supplies on the pilot unit.     

Growth of Salmonella enteritidis in yolk from eggs laid by immunized hens

After hyperimmunization of laying hens with Salmonella enteritidis, antibodies can be found in egg yolks. This study was conducted to ascertain whether the growth of S. enteritidis would be suppressed in the presence of antibodies contained in egg yolk. Specifically pathogen-free (SPF)-laying hens were immunized with S. enteritidis; eggs were collected, the yolk was separated and the concentration of S. enteritidis antibodies was determined quantitatively by using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the radial immunodiffusion and the bicinchoninic acid protein assay. Then, the yolk was inoculated with approximately 10, 100 or 1000 S. enteritidis cells/ml and incubated at 15, 20 and 30 degrees C for 0, 2, 6 and 24 h. The growth of organisms in each yolk was examined, and the generation times were calculated. The egg yolk from nonimmunized hens served as negative control. The highest level of antibody concentration was found in the hyperimmunized group. There was no difference in the generation times of S. enteritidis between the antibody-positive yolk and the negative yolk at the three different incubation temperatures. The results suggest that antibodies in the yolk do not influence the growth of S. enteritidis, even if the hens are highly immunized.     

Surface chemical heterogeneity of bacteriogenic iron oxides from a subterranean environment

This study quantifies the surface chemical heterogeneity of bacteriogenic iron oxides (BIOS) and its end-members (2-line ferrihydrite and intermixed intact and fragmented bacteria). On a dry weight basis, BIOS consisted of 64.5 +/- 1.8% ferrihydrite and 34.5 +/- 1.8% organic matter. Enrichment of Al, Cu, Cr, Mn, Sr, and Zn was shown in the solid versus the aqueous phase (1.9 < log Kd < 4.2). Within the solid-phase Al (69.5%), Cu (78.7%), and Zn (77.9%) were associated with the bacteria, whereas Cr (59.8%), Mn (99.8%), and Sr (79.4%) preferred ferrihydrite. Acid-base titration data from the BIOS and bacteria were fitted using FOCUS pKa spectroscopy. The bacteria spectrum with pKa's of 4.18 +/- 0.37, 4.80 +/- 0.54, 6.98 +/- 0.45, and 9.75 +/- 0.68 was similar to discrete and continuous spectra for intact and fragmented bacteria. The BIOS spectrum recorded pKa's of 4.27 +/- 0.51, 6.61 +/- 0.51, 7.89 +/- 1.10, and 9.65 +/- 0.66 and was deconvoluted to remove overlapping binding site contributions from the bacteria. The resulting residual iron oxide spectrum coincided with discrete MUSIC spectra for goethite and lepidocrocite with pKa values of 4.10 +/- 0.43, 6.53 +/- 0.45, 7.81 +/- 0.76, and 9.51 +/- 0.68. Surface site density analysis showed that acidic sites (pKa < 6) were contributed by the bacteria (37%), whereas neutral sites (6 < pKa < 8) were characteristic of the iron oxide fraction (35%). Basic sites (8 < pKa) were higher in the bacteria (57%), than in the BIOS (44%) or iron oxide fractions (47%). This analysis suggested a high degree of bacterial group masking and a similarity between the BIOS and goethite surface reactivity. An understanding of the BIOS surface chemical heterogeneity and inherent proton and metal binding capacity was obtained through the use of FOCUS apparent pKa spectroscopy.     

Developing an initial physical function item bank from existing sources

The objective of this article is to illustrate incremental item banking using health-related quality of life data collected from two samples of patients receiving cancer treatment. The kinds of decisions one faces in establishing an item bank for computerized adaptive testing are also illustrated. Pre-calibration procedures include: identifying common items across databases; creating a new database with data from each pool; reverse-scoring "negative" items; identifying rating scales used in items; identifying pivot points in each rating scale; pivot anchoring items at comparable rating scale categories; and identifying items in each instrument that measure the construct of interest. A series of calibrations were conducted in which a small proportion of new items were added to the common core and misfitting items were identified and deleted until an initial item bank has been developed.     

Optimization of methods and treatment conditions for studying effects of fatty acids on cell growth

Antiproliferative properties of molecular regulators of lipid metabolism have been increasingly studied during recent years. Discussion is ongoing concerning optimal treatment conditions and assays used for monitoring proliferation and cytotoxicity. The objective of the present work was to optimize methods and treatment conditions used for studying antiproliferative effects of fatty acids and analogs, represented by palmitic acid (PA) and the β-oxidation-restricted fatty acid analog tetradecylthioacetic acid (TTA), in rat (BT4Cn) and human (D54Mg and GaMg) glioma cell lines. Changes in [³H]thymidine incorporation preceded changes in cell number in TTA-treated glioma cell cultures, and the growth inhibition was more significantly expressed by [³H]thymidine incorporation than cell number. Addition of bovine serum albumin decreased cellular fatty acid uptake and reduced the effects of TTA and PA on [³H]thymidine incorporation. Determination of the antiproliferative effect of TTA in BT4Cn cells by MTT conversion and [³H]thymidine incorporation yielded concordant results. TTA-mediated reduction in cell number corresponded to reduction in cellular protein and total DNA content in BT4Cn cells. Reduced growth potential in TTA-treated multicellular D54Mg and GaMg spheroids supported the findings from monolayer cultures. In conclusion, cell density, treatment period, fatty acid administration, and methods for growth determination may profoundly influence the outcome of cell growth experiments. Thus, experimental conditions should be carefully controlled when performing cell growth experiments, and effects on cell growth should preferably be confirmed by different methods. Karl Johan Tronstad and Kjetil Berge contributed equally to this article.     

Future trends in data mining

Over recent years data mining has been establishing itself as one of the major disciplines in computer science with growing industrial impact. Undoubtedly, research in data mining will continue and even increase over coming decades. In this article, we sketch our vision of the future of data mining. Starting from the classic definition of “data mining”, we elaborate on topics that — in our opinion — will set trends in data mining.