Metabolic responses of postmenopausal women to supplemental dietary boron and aluminum during usual and low magnesium intake: boron, calcium, and magnesium absorption and retention and blood mineral concentrations

The regulation by neuropeptide Y of alpha2-adrenoceptors in the nucleus tractus solitarii was evaluated in the adult normotensive Wistar Kyoto rat and the adult spontaneously hypertensive rat. The microinjection of a submaximal dose of l-noradrenaline (800 pmol in 50 nl) alone into the nucleus tractus solitarii produced a significant reduction in the mean arterial blood pressure in either strain. The threshold dose (1 pmol in 50 nl) of neuropeptide Y(1-36) for the vasodepressor response in the Wistar Kyoto rat was five times higher than that (0.2 pmol in 50 nl) in the spontaneously hypertensive rat. Furthermore, neuropeptide Y(1-36) at 0.2 pmol in 50 nl could significantly counteract the vasodepressor response to l-noradrenaline (800 pmol in 50 nl) in the spontaneously hypertensive rat, but not in the Wistar Kyoto rat, in which 1 pmol in 50 nl of neuropeptide Y(1-36) must be employed to counteract the vasodepressor response to l-noradrenaline (800 pmol in 50 nl), although the vasodepressor responses are of a similar magnitude. The in situ hybridization and quantitative receptor autoradiographical experiments showed that the alpha2A-adrenoceptor messenger RNA levels and the B(max) value of the alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist [3H]p-aminoclonidine binding sites measured in the nucleus tractus solitarii of the spontaneously hypertensive rat were substantially lower than those in the Wistar Kyoto rat. The quantitative receptor autoradiographical results were consistent with the cardiovascular results and showed that in the spontaneously hypertensive rat, neuropeptide Y(1-36) at 1 nM led to a significant increase in the K(d) value of [3H]p-aminoclonidine binding sites. In the Wistar Kyoto rat, neuropeptide Y(1-36) produced this effect only at 10 nM. The present study provides evidence for an increase of the potency of neuropeptide Y(1-36) to antagonistically modulate alpha2-adrenoceptors in the nucleus tractus solitarii of the spontaneously hypertensive rat. This enhanced antagonistic action may partly be related to a reduction in the number of alpha2A-adrenoceptors in the nucleus tractus solitarii of the spontaneously hypertensive rat, since a decrease has been observed in the alpha2A-adrenoceptor messenger RNA levels and the alpha2-adrenoceptor binding sites in the spontaneously hypertensive rat. This increased potency of neuropeptide Y(1-36) to antagonize alpha2-adrenoceptor function in the nucleus tractus solitarii of the spontaneously hypertensive rat may contribute to the development of high blood pressure in this hypertensive strain.     

Environmental optimization of chromium recovery from tannery sludge using a life cycle assessment approach

Life cycle assessment (LCA) was used to evaluate the environmental impact of an oxidative chromium recovery method from tannery sludge, in comparison with the usual landfilling process. Three improvement options (water reduction, byproduct use and anaerobic sludge digestion) were considered. The results showed that the proposed chromium recovery process would be better environmentally than conventional landfilling in all the evaluated impact categories if the amount of chromium recovered was 43 kg per ton of sludge. This amount could be recovered if the chromium concentration was about 20 times higher than that considered in this study. Alternatively, a lower chromium concentration would produce a better result if the recovery method was optimized and implemented at industrial rather than laboratory scale, and if more accurate data were provided on environmental credits for avoiding the chromium production process. Thus, the recovery method is environmentally beneficial when tannery sludge contains a chromium concentration of about 100,000 ppm. According to the literature, such concentrations are not unusual. The results could serve as the basis for further environmental improvements in chromium recovery and tannery sludge management and should be used in decision-making processes, especially for end-of-pipe treatments.     

Nondestructive assessment of freshness in packaged sliced chicken breasts using SW-NIR spectroscopy

A technique was developed to predict the freshness of packaged sliced chicken breast employing a nondestructive visible and short-wavelength near-infrared (SW-NIR) spectroscopy method. Spectra were recorded at 0, 7 and 14 days using a camera, spectral filter (400-1000 nm) and a halogen flood lighting system which were developed and calibrated for the purpose. Physicochemical, biochemical and microbiological properties such as moisture (x^w), water activity (a_w), pH, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), ATP breakdown compounds (K₁ values) and mesophilic bacteria (cfu g^− 1) were determined to predict freshness degradation. The spectra obtained were related to the storage time of the samples. The best wavelengths for modeling freshness were 413, 426, 449, 460, 473, 480, 499, 638, 942, 946, 967, 970 and 982 nm. A linear correlation was found between the visible and SW-NIR spectroscopy and parameters such as microbiological counts, K₁ and T-VBN indexes.     

慕尼黑植物园的演变是欧洲园林艺术发展的缩影

欧洲的园林文化传统上青睐于规整式花园(后来被称为文艺复兴时期的花园),一直到18世纪自然风景园在英国和整个欧洲迅速蔓延开来.相比较而言,中国有着悠久的自然风景园林传统.建于1812年的慕尼黑的旧植物园刚开始也是一个规整式的花园.直到1890年才转型为一个自然风景园.城市扩张给花园造成很大的用地问题.因此1914年慕尼黑新植物园选址在城市的西郊.这20hm2的花园既有规整式的花园区域,也有自然式的花园区域.此外,园内还另辟场地,成立了一个主题花园——生态高山植物园.主题园自20世纪中叶以来越来越受欢迎.如今,主题花园为植物园提供了提高形象的重要机会.     

Mechanische Eigenschaften von kaltgezogenem und gegossenem Titan Grad 2

Mechanical properties of cold-drawn and cast Grade 2 Titanium The static and dynamic properties of Grade 2 Titanium for dental applications are investigated. The typical casting procedures used in dental laboratories lead to a drastic deterioration of the mechanical properties compared to wrought material. This deterioration is caused by changes in microstructure and surface roughness. The experimental results are used to determine opportunities for improvements and their limits.     

The Middle/Upper Paleolithic interface and the relationship of Neanderthals and early modern humans in the Hrvatsko Zagorje, Croatia

This paper presents the first detailed analysis of the artefacts from the Mousterian level G3 at Vindija Cave and a revision of the artefact analysis for the early Upper Paleolithic levels (j, i) at Velika Pe?ina, both in Croatia. Combined with an assessment of the artefacts from the crucial G1 level at Vindija, results of these analyses are used to argue that the combination of Middle and Upper Paleolithic elements in the upper G complex at Vindija is not necessarily the result of geological mixing but may well represent a natural cultural assemblage. Some Upper Paleolithic elements are possibly derived from the local Mousterian, while others result from extraneous cultural influences into this region. Interestingly, currently available radiocarbon dates indicate that Neanderthals (Vindija level G1) and early modern humans (Velika Pe?ina) were penecontemporaneous in this region at ca. 33 ka, or perhaps somewhat earlier if the radiocarbon dates are taken as minimum age estimates. Therefore some Upper Paleolithic tools associated with the Vindija G1 Neanderthals, such as bone points, may result from imitation of or trade with early modern people. While there is external influence on the development of the early Upper Paleolithic in this region, it exhibits a unique character which does not conform to that of classic Western or Central European Aurignacian.     

Case report of ruptured endometriotic cyst in pregnancy treated by laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy

Pregnancy is thought to have an ameliorating effect on endometriosis, inducing a state of quiescence. We report a case of ruptured endometriotic cyst in pregnancy successfully treated by laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy. Our patient subsequently progressed uneventfully to deliver a healthy baby girl at term. Laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy in pregnancy, even with ruptured cysts, appeared to be safe in trained hands with similar benefits of reduced post-operative morbidity.     

T cell apoptosis in human heart allografts: association with lack of co-stimulation?

It is unclear whether the intracardial immune reactivity after heart transplantation influences the peripheral immunological status (activation or nonresponsiveness) of the patient. Co-stimulation and activation-induced cell death (AICD) or apoptosis play an important role in determining the balance between lymphocyte reactivity and nonreactivity. Therefore, we studied the expression of co-stimulatory molecules and the process of apoptosis in biopsies of human heart allografts, using immunohistochemistry. Although a normal expression of co-stimulatory molecules on antigen-presenting cells was observed, the expression of their counter-structures on T cells was absent. This may be due to chronic T cell activation, which can lead to the induction of apoptosis via the Fas/Fas ligand pathway. In the infiltrates, a considerable percentage of the lymphocytes, but not the macrophages, were apoptotic. Apoptosis was confirmed by DNA fragmentation analysis. Increased numbers of Bax-expressing versus decreased numbers of Bcl2-expressing lymphocytes in comparison with normal lymphoid tissue confirmed a imbalance in favor of apoptosis. Apoptosis was biased towards CD4+ T cells (65.7% versus 26.6% in CD8+ T cells). Fas was expressed on most of the infiltrating cells. Fas ligand expression was also observed, not only on most of the T cells but also on all macrophages. Because macrophages were often detected in close contact with T cells, they may play a role in T cell regulation via the Fas/Fas ligand pathway. This study indicates that, during rejection, not only is tissue damage induced by infiltrating T cells, but also the infiltrating lymphocytes themselves are actively down-regulated (eg, AICD) by one another and by macrophages in the infiltrate. This regulatory process may affect the immunological status of the patient after heart transplantation.     

Impact of gender on coronary bypass operative mortality

I examine trends in single mothers' living arrangements using data from the 1970-1995 Current Population Surveys. I create a consistent trend by correcting a coding problem that stemmed from the misidentification of children living in multigenerational households before 1984. Revised estimates show that the number of single mothers in each of these years was undercounted by 200,000-300,000. All of these women were subfamily heads living with their parents, and the problem occurred disproportionately among teens and black women. The uncorrected trend falsely indicates a large increase in the share of single mothers living with their parents. In reality, there was little change in the percentage of single mothers living in this arrangement over the time period. However, the data indicate a large increase in the rate of cohabitation and a comparable decline in the rate of living independently among this population.