(31)P-MR Spectroscopy for the evaluation of energy metabolism in intact residual myocardium after acute myocardial infarction in humans

Objective experimental studies have demonstrated that acute myocardial infarction (MI) alters energy metabolism even in non-infarcted adjacent tissue. In patients with subacute MI, the influence of the regional ischemie insult on energy metabolism of intact septal myocardium was analyzed using³¹P-Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Patients and Methods in eight patients with wall motion abnormalities in the anterior wall³¹P-spectra were obtained from non-infarcted adjacent scptal myocardium, as well as infarcted anterior myocardium (voxel size 25 ccm each) 29 ±8 days after MI using a 3D-CSI technique. Additionally, cardiac function was analyzed using breath-hold cine MRI. MR1 was repeated 6 months after revascularization to assess viability of infarcted segments. Eight age-matched healthy volunteers served as control group. Results according to follow-up MRI 4/8 patients showed regional wall motion recovery. Here, PCr/ATP-ratios were not significantly reduced in intact septal myocardium as well as infarcted anterior myocardium compared to healthy volunteers (1.28 ±0.10 and 1.14 ±0.09 vs. 1.45 ±0.29). No recovery of regional function was detected in 4/8 patients with —therefore—non-viable anterior myocardium. PCr/ATP-ratios were significantly reduced in intact and infarcted myocardium compared with healthy volunteers as well as to patients with wall motion recovery (0.77 ±0.17 and 0.49 ±0.23;P < 0.05). Discussion these preliminary results indicate that energy metabolism is reduced in patients with persisting wall motion abnormalities after myocardial infarction and revascularization in ischemically injured as well as in adjacent non-injured myocardium.     

Second Generation Nanostructured Metal Oxide Matrices to Increase the Thermal Stability of CO and NO2 Sensing Layers Based on Iron(II) Phthalocyanine

An iron(II) phthalocyanine (FePc) complex solubilized by decylamine (DA) and benzylamine (BA) is incorporated into a nanoparticulate metal oxide matrix to develop optical sensor films sensitive to NO₂ and CO. Eleven amine solvents have been tested as N‐donor ligands that permit ligand exchange with the gas molecules. We have systematically investigated the suitability of different N‐donor ligands, studied the thermal stability of the NO₂‐ and CO‐sensing films at 4, 25, 60, and 80 °C by photometry, and corroborated our findings by using NMR experiments. A satisfactory thermal stability of the films has not been obtained for chemically unmodified nanoparticulate metal oxide matrices. We have therefore developed a second generation of nanostructured metal oxide supports that show increased thermal stability and adequate sensitivity to NO₂ and CO. These novel nanostructured matrices have been chemically modified using amines, alumina oligomers, and/or anti‐gas‐fading agents. These components have been integrated into the metal oxide matrices to avoid degradation of the optical films and to preserve their sensitivity.     

The optimal level of fuzz: case studies in a methodology for psychological research

Cognitive science research is hard to conduct, because researchers must take phenomena from the world and turn them into laboratory tasks for which a reasonable level of experimental control can be achieved. Consequently, research necessarily makes tradeoffs between internal validity (experimental control) and external validity (the degree to which a task represents behaviour outside of the lab). Researchers are thus seeking the best possible trade-off between these constraints, which we refer to as the optimal level of fuzz. We present two principles for finding the optimal level of fuzz, in research, and then illustrate these principles using research from motivation, individual differences and cognitive neuroscience.     

On the Effective Deployment of Functional Formal Verification

We examine IBM's exploitation of formal verification using RuleBase—a formal verification tool developed by the IBM Haifa Research Laboratory. The goal of the paper is methodological. We identify an integrated methodology for the deployment of formal verification which involves three complementary modes: architectural verification, block-level verification, and design exploration.     

The use of data from South Australia's rental tenancy tribunal for research and policy analysis: Issues of validity and efficacy

This paper examines the value for research and policy development of rental tenancy data collected by the South Australian Rental Tenancy Tribunal (RTT). The data held by the RTT are for South Australia only, but comparable organisations exist in a number of other states, such as New South Wales and Victoria. Lessons learned from South Australia could serve as a pilot for the development of a new (semi-) national framework for monitoring the private rental market.     

Book reviews

Australian Environmental Policy 2: Studies in Decline and Devolution

Ken Walker and Kate Crowley (eds) UNSW Press, Sydney, 1999 ISBN 0868406732 (paperback) 323 pp.; bibliography and index RRP $35.00

Beyond Meltdown: The Global Battle for Sustained Growth.

Peter Brain. Scribe, Melbourne, 1999 ISBN 0908011369 (paperback) 273 pp.; bibliography and index RRP $26.95

Cities Back from the Edge: New Life for Downtown

Roberta Brandes Gratz with Norman Mintz John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1998 ISBN 0471144177 (hardback) 347 pp.; index RRP $59.95

Evaluation in Planning: Facing the Challenge of Complexity

Nathaniel Lichfield, Angela Barbanente, Dino Bori, Abdul Khakee and Anna. Prat (eds). Kluwer, Dordrecht, 1998. ISBN 0792351770 (hardback). 383 pp.; index. RRP $254.00

Gritty Cities: Images of the Urban

Lyaranette Finch and Chris McConville (eds). Pluto, Sydney, 1999. ISBN 1864030631 (paperback). 250 pp.; bibliography and index. RRP $24.95

Setting the Stage for Systainability: A Citizen's Handbook

Chris Maser, Russ Beaton and Kevin Smith Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, 1998 ISBN 1574441876 (hardback) 269 pp.; index RRP $47.50

The Australian Metropolis: A Planning History

Stephen Hamnett and Robert Freestone (eds) Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1999 ISBN 1865080535 (paperback) 229 pp.; index RRP $35.00     

Kinetics of adsorption of sulfur mustard on Al2O3 nanoparticles with and without impregnants

BACKGROUND: Chemical warfare (CW) agents are highly toxic compounds and have been used in war to produce physical immobilization, so safe and effective ways to detoxify them without endangering human life or the environment is of great concern. One of the important ways to achieve protection against CW agents contaminating air is to utilize suitable adsorbent materials, e.g. activated carbon, nanoparticles, etc. In the present study nanoparticles, synthesized through sol–gel processes and loaded with reactive compounds have been used for the degradation of CW agents and to understand their adsorption kinetics using Fickian and linear driving force models. RESULTS: Nanoparticles of AP‐Al₂O₃ (aerogel‐produced alumina) in the size range 2–30 nm with high surface area (375 m² g^?1) were produced by an alkoxide‐based synthesis, and then characterized using N₂‐Brunauer–Emmet–Teller (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques. Thereafter, these were impregnated, and finally tested for kinetics of adsorption of sulfur mustard (HD) under static conditions. The kinetics was studied using linear driving force and Fickian diffusion models and the kinetics parameters determined. CONCLUSION: AP‐Al₂O₃ with 10% impregnation of 9‐molybdo‐3‐vanadophosphoric acid (10%, w/w) showed the maximum uptake (640 mg g^?1) of HD. The highest adsorption potential indicated that the adsorption was due not only to physisorption but also involved chemisorption. Values of the diffusional exponent indicated the mechanism to be Fickian and anomalous. Hydrolysis, dehydrochlorination and oxidation reactions (identified using gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC/MS)) were found to be the route of degradation of HD over the prepared nanoparticle based adsorbents. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Lack of effect of food on the steady state pharmacokinetics of BMS-181101, an antidepressant, in healthy subjects

An annual atmospheric pollen survey was performed for 14 consecutive years in the autumn at Sakado city, Saitama prefecture. The survey was performed on the transition of pollen dispersion of major allergen plants: ragweed (Ambrosia spp.), Humulus japonicus, Artemisia spp. and Gramineae. 1. Annual total pollen count of ragweed showed marked increases beginning from 1991. Total pollen count in 1991 was 8.8 times and that in 1996 was 18.6 times that in 1983. This increase is probably caused by marked proliferation of giant ragweed which is left without mowing as it is on a dry riverbed, and consequently produces much more pollen than short ragweed. 2. Annual increases in total pollen counts of other major plants which disperse their pollen in the same season as ragweed were 0.95 times in 1991 and 0.5 times in 1996 that in 1983 for Humulus japonicus, 0.68 times in 1991 and 1.5 times in 1996 that in 1983 for Artemisia spp. and 1.3 times in 1991 and 1.4 times in 1996 that in 1983 for Gramineae. None of these species showed a marked increase of pollen dispersion although they showed some annual variation. The above findings suggest that changes in the proliferous state of various allergenic plants due to environmental change should be considered with respect to characteristics of pollen allergy.