Fatty acid analysis of blood serum, seminal plasma, and spermatozoa of normozoospermic vs. Asthernozoospermic males

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22∶6n−3) is found in extremely high levels in human ejaculate with the majority occurring in the spermatozoa. However, the relative concentration of DHA and other fatty acids, in blood serum, seminal plasma, and spermatozoa of asthenozoospermic vs. normozoospermic individuals is not known. We analyzed the phospholipid fatty acid composition of blood serum, seminal plasma, and spermatozoa of normozoospermic men and asthenozoospermic men in order to determine if DHA levels, as well as the levels of other fatty acids, differed. The serum phospholipid DHA levels were similar in the two groups, suggesting similar intakes of dietary DHA. On the other hand, seminal plasma levels of DHA (3.0 vs. 3.7%) and total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (11.8 vs. 13.5%) were significantly lower in asthenozoospermic vs. normozoospermic men, respectively, while 18∶1 (19.0 vs. 16.8%) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) (24.2 vs. 21.7%) were significantly higher in the asthenozoospermic vs. the normozoospermic men. Spermatozoa from asthenozoospermic men had higher levels of 18∶1, 20∶0, 22∶0, 22∶1, and 24∶0 than sperm from normozoospermic men, and lower levels of 18∶0 and DHA (8.2 vs. 13.8%). Furthermore, total MUFA (19.3 vs. 16.5%) was higher and total PUFA (19.0 vs. 24.0%), n−3 fatty acids (9.3 vs. 14.6%), and the ratio of n−3 to n−6 fatty acids (1.0 vs. 1.6) were lower in the asthenozoospermic men. Therefore, in asthenozoospermic individuals, lower levels of DHA in the seminal plasma, but not in the blood serum, mimic the decreased concentrations of DHA in the spermatozoa. This suggests that the lower concentrations of spermatozoon DHA in these individuals are due not to dietary differences but to some type of metabolic difference in the asthenozoopermic men.     

Development of a Cloud Trust Label: A Delphi Approach

The purpose of this research is to identify the potential information components of an online, real-time trust label, which is proposed as a communication mechanism to encourage trust in cloud service providers and cloud computing products. An online Delphi process was used with 28 cloud computing experts (including vendors, software providers, and legal and business representatives). The proposed label contains 81 information components, covering the cloud service provider (e.g. physical location, legal jurisdiction), the cloud service itself (e.g. data location, security, backup, certification), and a historical service-level summary (e.g. uptime data, support response times). The potential benefits of such a label to encourage trustworthiness perceptions and trust behaviors in the cloud computing environment are explored. Limitations of the study are highlighted, and further research studies are suggested to test the concept of the label and to refine the components of the label itself.     

美国东北部各州政府如何影响电脑和电视的回收

1　前言电脑和电视含有害物质 ,如铅、水银和六价铬。平均而言 ,每台电视和电脑显示器含有 4磅铅。此外 ,通常在电子产品所用的塑料中添加溴化阻燃剂。如果处置不当 ,这些有毒化学物质就会通过焚烧、焚烧炉灰或填埋液等排放到环境中。除含有害物质外 ,电脑和电视还含有许多有价值的材料 ,如钢、玻璃、塑料和贵金属。重新使用和回收来自废旧电子产品 (即不再被它的主人所需要的电子设备 )的原材料可保护自然资源。它还可避免空气和水污染 ,以及制造新产品带来的温室气体排放问题。最后 ,消费电子产品是固定废物流中增长速度最快的一部分。处…     

SULFUR RECOVERY WITH REDUCED EMISSIONS, LOW CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND HYDROGEN CO-PRODUCTION

The main disadvantage of the Claus process is that by introducing air as oxidant a large volume of tail gas is produced. This must be treated to reduce atmospheric emissions of sulfur-containing gases. The costs of the tail-gas unit are a significant fraction of the total capital and operating costs for sulfur recovery. A new process uses thermal decomposition of hydrogen sulfide in the presence of carbon dioxide instead of air oxidation. The products of this reaction are hydrogen, carbon monoxide, elemental sulfur, water vapor and carbonyl sulfide. Carbonyl sulfide is easily converted to H₂S and C0₂ by liquid- or vapor-phase hydrolysis. Unreacted H₂S and C0₂ are recovered by absorption and recycled to the reactor. Since no air is introduced, there is no tail gas and the tail-gas unit is eliminated, giving a substantial reduction in capital investment. The concentrations of sulfur-containing gases in the product streams depend only on the operation of the absorber and stripper units and can be controlled to very low levels by increasing stripper boil-up. Process operating costs depend on the level of sulfur recovery required and can also be much lower than those of the modified Claus Process.

The process chemistry depends on a shift in the equilibrium of H₂S decomposition caused by reaction of hydrogen with C0₂ by the reverse of the water-gas-shift reaction. Catalysts for this chemistry have been identified. Reactor conversion is further improved by rapid cooling of the reactor effluent gas. Other aspects of process design and operation confer further advantages with respect to the Claus process; however, the process equipment used is similar to that used in a Claus plant. Retrofit of existing plant to the new technology can therefore be considered.     

Positron annihilation studies of vacancy related defects in ceramic and thin film Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 materials

Abstract

Preliminary positron annihilation studies of ceramic and thin film Pb(Zr,Ti)O₃ (PZT) materials have been completed. The aim of this work was to examine the effects of processing conditions on vacancy related defects. Positron lifetime measurements on bulk PLZT plates showed an increase in positron trapping to a defect state with increasing grain size consistent with trapping to lead vacancy related defects formed through lead oxide loss during processing. Variable energy positron beam measurements were completed on bulk PLZT plates, sol-gel PZT thin films and laser ablated PLZT thin films. Films processed in a reduced oxygen atmosphere were found to give a higher S-parameter, due to an increase in concentration of neutral or negatively charged vacancy type defects, compared with material processed in an oxidizing ambient.     

The Diffusible Signal Factor Family of Bacterial Cell?Cell Signals

Bacterial cell-to-cell signals of the diffusible signal factor (DSF) family are cis-2-unsaturated fatty acids that differ in their chain length and branching patterns. Signaling involving DSF family members occurs in diverse bacteria to include plant and human pathogens. In the majority of these organisms, the perception of DSF is linked to turnover of the second messenger cyclic di-GMP by one of two “core” pathways. Additional “accessory” signal transduction pathways can also be found, but are not widely conserved. DSF signaling acts to regulate diverse functions to include biofilm formation and architecture, antibiotic resistance, and the production of virulence factors in pathogens. DSF family signals can also participate in interspecies signaling with other bacteria and interkingdom signaling with the yeast Candida albicans. Such interactions may have importance in modifying microbial behavior during polymicrobial infections.     

Epidemic Simulation for Training in Public Health Management

Epidemiological simulation models to be used primarily to augment the teaching of epidemiology to medical students and other individuals concerned with public health and control of epidemics are presented. Interactive simulations are used to expose students to ``realistic' epidemic situations and permit them to experiment with various control strategies. Criteria by which simulations for such teaching purposes may be evaluated are proposed and operating simulations, MEASLES and INFLU, are described in detail. Information is provided regarding user experience with the above simulations.