Comparisons of the fertilizing and liming properties of lime-treated sewage sludge with its incinerated ash

Two field experiments were conducted to compare the fertilizing and liming properties of dried lime-treated sewage sludge with its incineration product (ash). One experiment used a mixture of ryecorn and ryegrass on a relatively fertile soil and the other lucerne on a strongly acidic and phosphorus deficient soil.The first harvest of the ryecorn-ryegrass experiment showed small but significant linear responses in dry matter yield to both ash and sludge. Ash applications did not affect foliage nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, or uptakes, but sludge applications increased these significantly. Sludge also increased the concentrations of K, S, Mg, Cu and Zn but ash only increased the concentrations of S and Mg. At the second harvest (ryegrass) 5 t ha^–1 of sludge increased dry matter yield and foliage nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations whereas ash had no effect. Levels of phosphorus extracted from the soil were increased by both amendments but the sludge was much more effective than the ash. Both ash and sludge raised soil pH.In the lucerne experiment comparisons between sludge and ash were calculated from response surfaces fitted to the data which showed marked increased in soil pH and dry matter yield. Sludge markedly increased extractable phosphorus whereas ash had no effect. The sludge was 22% as effective as ash in raising soil pH to 6.5. The amounts of ash required to obtain the same yield as 10 t ha^–1 of sludge were 5.78, 12.78 and 6.39 t ha^–1 respectively for three successive harvests. These results and those for foliage concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus were also ascribed to the much greater availability of the sludge phosphorus than the ash phosphorus, and the presence of nitrogen in the sludge but not in the ash.     

The pathogenicity of islet-infiltrating lymphocytes in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse

The aim of the present study was to investigate the pathogenic properties of islet-infiltrating lymphocytes related to the severity of the autoimmune destruction of islet beta-cells in the NOD mouse. We analysed the development of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) produced by adoptive transfer of islet lymphocytes from NOD into NOD.scid mice. Here we show that the transfer was most effective when both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were present in the infiltrate, but CD4+ T cells alone were sufficient to cause the disease. Islet lymphocytes from both females and males transferred diabetes effectively, but the severity of IDDM was higher when female islet lymphocytes were used. Unexpectedly, the sensitivity of male islets to beta-cell damage was greater than that of female islets. Treatment of NOD females with a peptide of heat shock protein (hsp)60, p277, known to protect NOD mice from IDDM, reduced the pathogenicity of the islet lymphocytes. In contrast, administration of cyclophosphamide to males, a treatment that accelerates the disease, rendered the islet lymphocytes more pathogenic. More severe disease in the recipient NOD.scid mice was associated with more interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-secreting islet T cells of the NOD donor. The disease induced by islet lymphocytes was strongly inhibited by co-transfer of spleen cells from prediabetic mice, emphasizing the regulatory role of peripheral lymphocytes. Thus, the cellular characteristics of the islet infiltrate and the pathogenicity of the cells are subject to complex regulation.     

The role of reproductive factors and use of oral contraceptives in the aetiology of breast cancer in women aged 50 to 74 years

BACKGROUND: We examined the cholesterol-lowering effects of a proprietary Chinese red-yeast-rice supplement in an American population consuming a diet similar to the American Heart Association Step I diet using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, prospectively randomized 12-wk controlled trial at a university research center. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the lipid-lowering effects of this red-yeast-rice dietary supplement in US adults separate from effects of diet alone. DESIGN: Eighty-three healthy subjects (46 men and 37 women aged 34-78 y) with hyperlipidemia [total cholesterol, 5.28-8.74 mmol/L (204-338 mg/dL); LDL cholesterol, 3.31-7.16 mmol/L (128-277 mg/dL); triacylglycerol, 0.62-2.78 mmol/L (55-246 mg/dL); and HDL cholesterol 0.78-2.46 mmol/L (30-95 mg/dL)] who were not being treated with lipid-lowering drugs participated. Subjects were treated with red yeast rice (2.4 g/d) or placebo and instructed to consume a diet providing 30% of energy from fat, <10% from saturated fat, and <300 mg cholesterol daily. Main outcome measures were total cholesterol, total triacylglycerol, and HDL and LDL cholesterol measured at weeks 8, 9, 11, and 12. RESULTS: Total cholesterol concentrations decreased significantly between baseline and 8 wk in the red-yeast-rice-treated group compared with the placebo-treated group [(x+/-SD) 6.57+/-0.93 mmol/L (254+/-36 mg/dL) to 5.38+/-0.80 mmol/L (208+/-31 mg/dL); P < 0.001]. LDL cholesterol and total triacylglycerol were also reduced with the supplement. HDL cholesterol did not change significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Red yeast rice significantly reduces total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and total triacylglycerol concentrations compared with placebo and provides a new, novel, food-based approach to lowering cholesterol in the general population.     

PRESSURE DROP AND HOMOGENIZATION EFFICIENCY OF A MOTIONLESS MIXER

Pressure drop and homogenization efficiency of a motionless mixer of helical type have been studied experimentally. For evaluation of the drag coefficient the equation has been proposed which is valid within the range of Reynolds number from 10^?2 to 10⁴ The efficiency of the motionless mixer for mixing of two Newtonian liquids has been investigated by using a decolourization method. For the operating conditions studied in this work it appears that there is the worse performance of the mixer about the Reynolds number of 50. No influence of volume flow rate ratios (from 1 to 10) upon the performance of the mixer has been observed. A higher number of mixing elements must be applied for homogemzation of liquids with viscosity ratios above 100 as compared with that for viscosity ratio 1.     

Sociocultural aspects of schistosomiasis mansoni in an endemic area in Minas Gerais, Brazil

A study to determine the sociocultural factors influencing knowledge, attitudes, and practices of individuals from a small community toward Schistosoma mansoni infection was carried out in an endemic area in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The study used qualitative approaches to collect data from school-aged children and teachers. Specific findings were that the individuals interviewed were aware of the disease, but also held inaccurate popular beliefs about transmission. Misconceptions coexisted with accurate knowledge both in children and teachers. The disease was not seen as a major health problem and does not affect their activities since it does not cause severe symptoms in most of the individuals. Although the majority of the participants relate transmission to water and lack of sanitation, they do not take any preventive measures since their subsistence is highly dependent on irrigation, farming, fishing, and other essential work that is directly related to water activities. The authors discuss the development of a health education program based on the knowledge and perception of individuals about the disease and its determinants as being important for the context and behavioral change.     

Differences in myocardial velocity gradient measured throughout the cardiac cycle in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, athletes and patients with left ventricular hypertrophy due to hypertension

OBJECTIVES: We sought to compare the myocardial velocity gradient (MVG) measured across the left ventricular (LV) posterior wall during the cardiac cycle between patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), athletes and patients with LV hypertrophy due to systemic hypertension and to determine whether it might be used to discriminate these groups. BACKGROUND: The MVG is a new ultrasound variable, based on the color Doppler technique, that quantifies the spatial distribution of transmyocardial velocities. METHODS: A cohort of 158 subjects was subdivided by age into two groups: Group I (mean [+/-SD] 30 +/- 7 years) and Group II (58 +/- 8 years). Within each group there were three categories of subjects: Group Ia consisted of patients with HCM (n = 25), Group Ib consisted of athletes (n = 21), and Group Ic consisted of normal subjects; Group IIa consisted of patients with HCM (n = 19), Group IIb consisted of hypertensive patients (n = 27), and Group IIc consisted of normal subjects (n = 33). RESULTS: The MVG (mean [+/-SD] s-1) measured in systole was lower (p < 0.01) in patients with HCM (Group Ia 3.2 +/- 1.1; Group IIa 2.9 +/- 1.2) compared with athletes (Group Ib 4.6 +/- 1.1), hypertensive patients (Group IIb 4.2 +/- 1.8) and normal subjects (Group Ic 4.4 +/- 0.8; Group IIc 4.8 +/- 0.8). In early diastole, the MVG was lower (p < 0.05) in patients with HCM (Group Ia 3.7 +/- 1.5; Group IIa 2.6 +/- 0.9) than in athletes (Group Ib 9.9 +/- 1.9) and normal subjects (Group Ic 9.2 +/- 2.0; Group IIc 3.6 +/- 1.5), but not hypertensive patients (Group IIb 3.3 +/- 1.3). In late diastole, the MVG in patients with HCM (Group Ia 1.3 +/- 0.8; Group IIa 1.4 +/- 0.8) was lower (p < 0.01) than that in hypertensive patients (Group IIb 4.3 +/- 1.7) and normal subjects (Group IIc 3.8 +/- 0.9). An MVG < or = 7 s-1, as a single diagnostic approach, differentiated accurately (0.96 positive and 0.94 negative predictive value) between patients with HCM and athletes when the measurements were taken during early diastole. CONCLUSIONS: In both age groups, the MVG was lower in both systole and diastole in patients with HCM than in athletes, hypertensive patients or normal subjects. The MVG measured in early diastole in a group of subjects 18 to 45 years old would appear to be an accurate variable used to discriminate between HCM and hypertrophy in athletes.     

The morphological and cytogenetic aspects in a study of chorionic and placental biopsies in pregnant women who are over the age of 35

Perinatal pathology and morbidity takes the leading role in children pathology and morbidity today. These indices are of significance for the pregnant women of high risk group pregnant women in the age of 35 and above occupying peculiar place in this group. In this connection the morphological studies of chorion and placenta biopsies in this group of patients are important and urgent. The cytogenetical analysis of these tissues allows one to solve completely the problems of the presence or absence of chromosome fetal malformations in terms of 8-24 weeks, when the elimination of fetus is still possible.