Copper in sea-water,potential-pH diagrams

Equilibrium relations and the corresponding potential-pH diagrams for copper in sea-water are presented, on the basis of a critical analysis of the available activity coefficient data. Stability domains of the different cuprous and cupric species, both solid and in solution, are also presented as a function of pH and total copper in solution. The competitive precipitation of atacamite and malachite is pointed out.     

A case of meningioma appearing as a cyst with solid parietal nodule. Evaluation using computerized tomography and magnetic resonance

Bilateral sequential lung transplantation was complicated by pulmonary artery anastomotic stenosis and bilateral pulmonary thromboemboli. Pulmonary artery thrombus was eliminated by intrathrombotic but not by systemic administration of urokinase. The pulmonary emboli resulted in localized pulmonary infarctions, supporting the need for thrombolytic intervention to restore pulmonary perfusion in the absence of collateral bronchial blood flow after lung transplantation. Pulmonary artery stenosis was relieved by endovascular stenting, avoiding an early reoperative procedure. This case suggests that direct administration of thrombolytic agent may be superior to intravenous administration in the treatment of pulmonary thromboemboli. Pulmonary arterial anastomotic stenoses after lung transplantation can be relieved by endovascular procedures.     

Large granular lymphocytic leukemia. Case report with scarce expression in peripheral blood

Evidence is rapidly emerging which suggests that uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), by virtue of its ubiquitous expression, may be important for determining basal metabolic rate. To assess the functional modulation of UCP2 gene expression in relation to body weight control, we examined the effects of hyperthyroid state induced by chronic treatment with triiodothyronine (T3) on UCP2 mRNA expression in male rats. Daily subcutaneous injection of T3 (37 pmol/100 g body weight) for 7 days increased UCP2 mRNA expression in brown adipose tissue (BAT), white adipose tissue (WAT) and the soleus muscle 1.6-, 1.6- and 1.7-fold compared to the controls, respectively, and increased UCP1 mRNA expression in BAT 1.2-fold. In contrast, the same treatment with T3 decreased both ob mRNA expression in WAT and plasma leptin level 0.5-fold for each. The present results suggest that T3 may directly increase UCP2 expression independently of leptin action.     

Model dependency of multivariate autoregressive spectral analysis

A combination of simulations and experimental data analysis has been used to demonstrate that, because cardiovascular control represents a complex linking of input and output parameters, interpreting the variability of individual parameters such as heart rate and arterial pressure virtually requires the use of techniques that quantify control by relating these inputs and outputs. Transfer functions represent appropriate techniques for this purpose. Further, despite the complexities of in vivo physiological control, many of the control elements can be well characterized by only taking into account single inputs and outputs and using a bivariate AR model. However, occasionally when two control systems have a strong and simultaneous influence on a single output parameter, such as arterial pressure and respiratory activity on RR interval, an expansion of the model to the general multivariate case may be required for a complete interpretation. Finally, although not fully demonstrated here, because of the closed-loop nature of cardiovascular control it is likely that algorithms that include causality to account for this characteristic, such as the AR formulation, will most accurately identify the transfer relations     

Specificity of substrate recognition by Pseudomonas fluorescens N3 dioxygenase. The role of the oxidation potential and molecular geometry

Pseudomonas fluorescens N3 is able to grow on naphthalene as the sole carbon and energy source. The mutant TTC1, blocked at the dihydrodiol dehydrogenase level, which can transform the hydrocarbon into the corresponding dihydrodiol, has been used to produce bioconversion products. To rationalize the different grades of conversion obtained with different substrates, a study was performed using non-naphthalene derivatives, including benzenes, conjugated benzenes, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The corresponding diols obtained by bioconversion have been isolated and characterized. A theoretical model that considers both energy and geometry factors has been proposed to rationalize the experimental data. Good agreement has been found between the calculated values and the experimental results.     

High Loading Fe-supported Fischer–Tropsch Catalysts: Optimization of the Catalyst Performance

The iron loading of catalysts, supported on SiO₂, was investigated between 10 and 75 wt%, with and without the addition of promoters (K and Cu), in order to highlight the different catalytic performances of the samples in the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis. An optimization study of the prepared catalysts (active metal/promoters ratio, catalysts’ activation procedure before the Fischer–Tropsch runs, influence of the feeding gas composition) is reported. The mechanical resistance of the catalysts was also evaluated using a suitable method involving ultrasound.     

Continuous monitoring of the sympatho-vagal balance throughspectral analysis

The activity of the autonomic nervous system is noninvasively studied by means of autoregressive (AR) frequency analysis of the heart-rate variability (HRV) signal. Some methods of noise rejection and robustness for AR recursive identification are presented that make on-line frequency analysis of the heart-rate variability signal more reliable. The performance of the algorithms is first tested through simulations, and then results obtained on real data during ischemic episodes are presented     

Metal Oxide Nanowire and Thin-Film-Based Gas Sensors for Chemical Warfare Simulants Detection

This work concerns with metal oxide (MOX) gas sensors based on nanowires and thin films. We focus on chemical warfare agents (CWAs) detection to compare these materials from the functional point-of-view. We work with different chemicals including simulants for Sarin nerve agents, vescicant gases, cyanide agents, and analytes such as ethanol, acetone, ammonia, and carbon monoxide that can be produced by everyday activities causing false alarms. Explorative data analysis has been used to demonstrate the different sensing performances of nanowires and thin films. Within the chosen application, our analysis reveal that the introduction of nanowires inside the array composed by thin films can improve its sensing capability. Cyanide simulants have been detected at concentrations close to 1 ppm, lower than the Immediately Dangerous for Life and Health (IDLH) value of the respective warfare agent. Higher sensitivity has been obtained to simulants for Sarin and vescicant gases, which have been detected at concentrations close or even lower than 100 ppb. Results demonstrate the suitability of the proposed array to selectively detect CWA simulants with respect to some compounds produced by everyday activities.