Highly active antiretroviral therapy results in a decrease in CD8+ T cell activation and preferential reconstitution of the peripheral CD4+ T cell population with memory rather than naive cells

Criteria for detection of chromosome aberrations by Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH) are not standardized and improvement of this part of the analysis is of paramount importance to the applicability of the technique. The aim of this work was to suggest CGH detection criteria that increase the specificity and sensitivity and at the same time include chromosome regions previously excluded from CGH analysis. We analyzed 33 hybridizations with normal DNA and modified our CGH software in order to use a selection of these normal analyses as a model for interpretation of analyses of unknown samples. This approach was successfully tested on 14 samples with known aberrations.     

Endotoxin-induced platelet aggregation in heparinised equine whole blood in vitro

Endotoxaemia is a leading cause of death among horses. Thrombocytopenia is a common finding in clinical and experimentally-induced cases of endotoxaemia and can lead to coagulopathies, including disseminated intravascular coagulopathy which is usually fatal. In this study it was shown that endotoxin (3 ng ml-1 to 25 micrograms ml-1) can aggregate equine platelets in heparinised whole blood in vitro. The endotoxin-induced aggregation (EIA) was shown to be dependent on the presence of leucocytes in the blood and did not occur when detoxified endotoxin was used, suggesting that lipid A was necessary for the response. Aspirin (1 mmol litre-1) had no effect on EIA whereas apyrase (40 micrograms ml-1) completely abolished it and CV3988 (3 to 30 mumol litre-1) (a competitive antagonist of platelet-activating factor) inhibited the response in a concentration-dependent manner. It is concluded that endotoxin activates equine platelets at low concentrations through an indirect mechanism that involves calcium, leucocytes, adenine nucleotides and platelet-activating factor.     

Mechanical performance of ceramic matrix composite I-beams

Experimental studies have been performed on ceramic matrix composite (CMC) I-sections, which typify joint designs for CMC components. Axial loads and moments have been applied to activate delamination mechanisms. The maximum load bearing capacity has large variability, governed by the severity of manufacturing flaws located in the transition region of the I-section. This variability leads to an unsatisfactory design situation. Delaminations that form from these flaws arrest and behave in a stable manner, subject to a remanent load bearing capacity. This remanent capacity has minimal variability. Hence, design based on the remanent load would be robust. An expression for this design criterion is presented.     

The relationship between isometric strength of Cantonese males and the US NIOSH guide for manual lifting

A laboratory study was undertaken to assess the relationship between the maximal voluntary isometric strength (MVIS) of a group of Hong Kong Cantonese males and recommended limiting values for lifting proposed in the Work Practices Guide for Manual Lifting (NIOSH, 1981). Forty-one male subjects were required to apply a 'free-style' vertical 'lift' force to a horizontal bar located 150 mm from the ground. Forces were applied with the horizontal location of the midpoint of the ankles at 200, 400, 600 and 800 mm from the bar. The results were compared with the Maximal Permissible Limit (MPL) and the Action Limit (AL) values proposed in the NIOSH guide. The results showed that the mean MVIS of the Hong Kong subjects lay between the MPL and AL when the load was 200 mm and 400 mm from the ankles, but was significantly below the AL at 600 mm. At 800 mm more than half of the subjects were unable to apply any measurable positive vertical force. The compressive force at the L5/S1 disc of four subjects was estimated using a static biomechanical model. The relationship between the disc pressure and the force exerted was largely in accordance with NIOSH guide values. The results are discussed in terms of differences in subject population and lifting technique. Comments on the applicability of the NIOSH standards internationally, are also presented.     

Synthesis and Evaluation of Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Blocking Pyrroline Derivatives Endowed with Both Antiarrhythmic and Antioxidant Activities

Under the hypothesis that cardioprotective agents might benefit from synergism between antiarrhythmic activity and antioxidant properties, a small series of mexiletine analogues were coupled with the 2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrroline moiety, known for its antioxidant effect, in order to obtain dual-acting drugs potentially useful in the protection of the heart against post-ischemic reperfusion injury. The pyrroline derivatives reported herein were found to be more potent as antiarrhythmic agents than mexiletine and displayed antioxidant activity. The most interesting tetramethylpyrroline congener, a tert-butyl-substituted analogue, was at least 100 times more active as an antiarrhythmic than mexiletine.     

Thai Tea Seed Oil and Virgin Olive Oil Similarly Reduce Plasma Lipids: A Pilot Study within a Healthy Adult Male Population

The potential cardiovascular benefit of virgin olive oil (VOO) is widely recognized. However, the use of VOO at very high cooking temperatures makes these oils poorly suited for many Asian dishes. The use of tea seed oil (TSO) is increasing in Thailand, with TSO having a higher smoke point than VOO. The current study examines the effects of daily TSO intake in healthy adults. In a randomized, single-blind crossover design, 12 men consumed for 3 weeks 40 g day⁻¹ of food prepared with either TSO or VOO as a cooking oil. Plasma lipids, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and oxidant defense enzyme activities are measured before and after each 3-week intervention period. Gas chromatography analysis of TSO and VOO demonstrates that both oils are equally high in monounsaturated fatty acid. The dietary incorporation of TSO and VOO for three weeks reduces low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations by 15% and 13%, respectively; with total cholesterol (TC) levels lowered by 10% in both groups. No significant changes in TBARS or antioxidant enzyme activity is observed. These results support the concept that Thai TSO can be utilized as a suitable and healthy alternative oil for high-temperature cooking in many Thai and Asian diets. Practical Applications: Tea seed oil from Camellia oleifera grown in Thailand has been recently reported to favorably lower lipid profiles in hamsters fed a high-fat diet in a manner similar to feeding refined olive oil or grapeseed oil. A pilot crossover trial is conducted to compare the effects of three weeks of daily intake of either TSO or VOO in healthy human adults. Consumption of both oils produced significant reductions in TC and LDL-C. Thai TSO leads to favorable lipid profiles and is a reasonable choice for many Thai and Asian food recipes.     

Characterizing the interface of nickel-zincate-aluminum thin films

The manufacture of plated computer memory disks requires a complex sequence of processing steps. One of the most important factors affecting disk surface topography and adhesion between nickel and aluminum was found to be the formation and diffusion of a zincate thin film at the nickel-aluminum interface. To improve the adhesion, the strength of the weak link (the zinc layer) must be increased. This can be accomplished by alloying the zinc layer with the aluminum and nickel layers by co-diffusion, which is accelerated at high temperatures, or by keeping the zinc layer very thin. Surface topography can be modified by changing the metallurgical properties of the substrate, promoting the diffusion of elements between layers at elevated temperatures, or adjusting the zincating bath parameters.

     

Evaluation of tempering induced changes in the hardness profile of case-carburised EN36 steel using magnetic Barkhausen noise analysis

The effect of tempering on the magnetic Barkhausen noise (MBN) signal profile was studied in case-carburised EN36 steel using a range of magnetic excitation frequencies and a number of frequency ranges for analysis of the MBN signal. The MBN level generally increases with tempering due to coarsening of the microstructure. With higher values of excitation frequency, f_EX, the MBN profile exhibits a single peak, but with low values of f_EX, double peaks are observed. The MBN peak obtained with higher f_EX was found to correlate well with hardness changes in a region, down to 100 μm below the surface. The analysis of the MBN signal produced with low f_EX, in narrow frequency ranges selected by software frequency filtering, showed variations in the extent of changes in the relative height of the two MBN peaks in the profile. After taking into account the skin depth-frequency relation for the MBN signal, variations in the values of the two MBN peaks in different analysing frequency ranges were found to correlate well with hardness variations at different depths down to 425 μm below the surface. An empirical relationship has been established between the hardness-depth profile and the MBN measurements.     

Development of color in fats stabilized with amino-hexose-reductones

Summary Amino reductones derived from hexoses were evaluated for color development in heated, oxidizing fat systems. Browning was observed to some extent with all the amino-hexose-reductones. The brown color frequently faded upon long heating of the oils. The density of color increased with reductone concentration and varied markedly among the different amino reductones. Morpholino-hexose-reductone could be used in lard and vegetable oils at concentrations up to 0.01% without introducing visually detectable amounts of color. Heating soybean oil solutions of the amino reductones at 100°C. under vacuum slowly destroyed the reductone but did not cause development of color. Air or oxygen was required for color production. Addition of citric acid along with the reductone reduced the amount of color developed. Reductones in fat systems show similarities in browning to reductones in aqueous systems. New considerations for the mechanism of antioxidation by polyphenols and reductones in oils are presented. Presented at the spring meeting, American Oil Chemists’ Society. New Orleans, La., April 28-May 1, 1957.