Plasma and erythrocyte alpha-tocopherol and plasma retinol concentrations in term infants fed formula enriched with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA)- and vitamin E-supplemented formula feeding on erythrocyte and plasma alpha-tocopherol (VE), and plasma retinol (VA) concentrations in neonates and to compare these values with those found in infants feeding on infant formula without LCPUFA or breast milk SETTING: University Hospital of Granada, Spain. SUBJECTS: 49 full-term infants. DESIGN AND INTERVENTION: Subjects who chose not to breast feed were fed either (i) unsupplemented infant formula (F) or (ii) infant formula supplemented with LCPUFA and vitamin E (FL). Alpha-tocopherol and retinol were measured at 7 days, 1 month and 3 months. RESULTS: Plasma and erythrocyte VE concentrations and plasma VE/total lipids ratio increased significantly in all groups at 1 month of life (P < 0.05), but did not change significantly between 1 month and 3 months in any group (P > 0.05). Erythrocyte VE and VA retinol concentrations were higher in infants fed an infant formula than in breast milk-fed infants at 1 month of life (P < 0.05). Finally, there were no significant differences in plasma or erythrocyte VE levels, plasma VA or plasma VE/total lipid ratio between any groups at 3 months of life (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Infants fed on LCPUFA- and vitamin E-supplemented infant formula for 3 months have similar vitamin E and A status to infants fed on breast milk or infant formula without LCPUFA supplementation.     

Synthesis and comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) of antitumor 3-arylisoquinoline derivatives

In this study a series of 3-arylisoquinoline derivatives were synthesized and cytotoxicity against human melanoma tumor cell evaluated, and a three dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship was investigated using the comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA). The results suggested that the electrostatic, steric and hydrophobic factors of 3-arylisoquinolines were strongly correlated with the antitumor activity. Considerable predictive ability (cross-validated r2 as high as 0.721) was obtained through CoMFA.     

Iron species incorporated over different silica supports for the heterogeneous photo-Fenton oxidation of phenol

Iron-containing catalysts have been prepared following different synthesis routes and silica supports (amorphous, zeolitic and mesostructured materials). Activity and stability of these materials were assessed on the photo-Fenton degradation of phenolic aqueous solutions using near UV irradiation (higher than 313 nm) at room temperature and initial neutral pH. Their catalytic performance was monitored in terms of phenol and total organic carbon (TOC) conversions. Aromatic compounds and carboxylic acids as by-products coming from incomplete mineralization of phenol as well as the efficiency of each catalytic system in the use of the oxidant were also studied. Stability of the materials throughout the photo-Fenton reaction was evaluated in terms of metal leachibility. Activity and stability depend on the environment of iron species and features of silica support. The evolution of pH with the reaction time and their relationship with TOC degradation and leaching degree has been discussed. A nanocomposite material of crystalline iron oxides supported over mesostructured SBA-15 material is shown the most successful catalyst for degradation of phenolic aqueous solutions by photo-Fenton processes, achieving an outstanding overall catalytic performance accompanied with a noteworthy stability.     

What is "special" about face perception?

There is growing evidence that face recognition is "special" but less certainty concerning the way in which it is special. The authors review and compare previous proposals and their own more recent hypothesis, that faces are recognized "holistically" (i.e., using relatively less part decomposition than other types of objects). This hypothesis, which can account for a variety of data from experiments on face memory, was tested with 4 new experiments on face perception. A selective attention paradigm and a masking paradigm were used to compare the perception of faces with the perception of inverted faces, words, and houses. Evidence was found of relatively less part-based shape representation for faces. The literatures on machine vision and single unit recording in monkey temporal cortex are also reviewed for converging evidence on face representation. The neuropsychological literature is reviewed for-evidence on the question of whether face representation differs in degree or kind from the representation of other types of objects.     

Methodological design and comparative evaluation of a MAS providing AmI

Researches on Ambient Intelligent and Ubiquitous Computing using wireless technologies have increased in the last years. In this work, we review several scenarios to define a multi-agent architecture that support the information needs of these new technologies, for heterogeneous domain. Our contribution consists of designing in a methodological way a Context Aware System (involving location services) using agents that can be used in very different domains. We describe all the steps followed in the design of the agent system. We apply a hybridizing methodology between GAIA and AUML. Additionally we propose a way to compare different agent architectures for Context Aware System using agent interactions. So, in this paper, we describe the assignment of weight values to agents interaction in two different MAS architectures for Context Aware problems solving different scenarios inspired in FIPA standard negotiation protocols.     

Serial measurements of body composition in obese subjects during a very-low-energy diet (VLED) comparing bioelectrical impedance with hydrodensitometry

Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a convenient, inexpensive, and noninvasive technique for measuring body composition. BIA has been strongly correlated with total body water (TBW) and also has been validated against hydrodensitometry (HD). The accuracy and clinical utility of BIA and HD during periods of substantial weight loss remain controversial. We measured body composition in moderately and severely obese patients serially using both methods during a very-low-energy diet (VLED). Mean initial weight in these patients was 116 (+/-30) kg (range, 74-196 kg). Mean weight loss was 24 (+/-13) kg with a decrease in fat mass (FM) by HD of kg (p < 0.001) and a decrease in fat-free mass (FFM) of 3.6 kg (p < 0.05). Loss of FFM is best predicted by the rate (kg/wk) of weight loss (r2 = 0.86, p < 0.0001). FFM, as predicted from BIA equations, was highly correlated with FFM as estimated by HD during all testing sessions (r = 0.92-0.98). Although highly correlated, BIA overestimated FFM relative to HD and this difference appeared to be more pronounced for taller patients with greater truncal obesity. Although the discrepancy was no greater during weight-loss treatment, the level of disagreement was considerable. Therefore, the two methods cannot be used interchangeably to monitor relative changes in body composition in patients with obesity during treatment with VLED. The discrepancy between BIA and HD may be caused by body mass distribution considerations and by perturbations in TBW which affect the hydration quotient for FFM (BIA) and/or which affect the density constants for FFM and FM (HD).