Acid-base and electrolyte effects of shortening steeplechase in a three-day-event

This study was designed to characterise the acid-base and electrolyte effects of shortening the distance required during steeplechase (Phase B) in the face of hot and humid weather conditions during a treadmill-simulated Speed and Endurance test. Eight conditioned Thoroughbred horses underwent 3 randomised permutations of a standardised exercise test on a high speed treadmill. Each test consisted of trotting at 3.7 m/s for 10 min (Phase A); galloping at 11 m/s (Phase B) for 4 (cool laboratory conditions), 3 (hot and humid), or 2 (hot and humid) min; trotting at 3.7 m/s for 30 min (Phase C); and walking at 1.8 m/s for 10 min (Phase X). The treadmill slope was 4% for trotting and galloping and 0% for walking. Cool versus hot and humid conditions were 20 degrees C and 50-60% relative humidity vs. 26-28 degrees C and 80-85% relative humidity, respectively. Pulmonary artery blood samples were obtained at rest prior to exercise (Rest); at the end of Phases A (A10) and B (B2-4); at 10 (C10), 20 (C20) and 30 (C30) min through Phase C; and at 5 min into Phase X (X5). Additional samples for lactate (LA) and glucose (GLC) analysis were obtained 5 min into Phase C (C5) and at the end of Phase X (X10). Samples were analysed for packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (HB), total plasma protein (TP), sodium (Na), potassium (K), chloride (Cl), anion gap (AG), plasma glucose (GLC) and lactate (LA), pH, PCO2, bicarbonate (HCO3) and base excess (BE). Shortening steeplechase distance by 50% under hot and humid conditions (2 min B) resulted in a consistent return to control measurements (4 min B) only for plasma LA. Changes in PCV, HB, TP, K and Cl were related more to the longer galloping distance in the 4 min B trials than to hot vs. cold laboratory conditions. Alternatively, changes in LA, GLC, pH, PCO2 and AG were more related to hot and humid laboratory conditions than they were to galloping distance. These latter variables, when combined with physical measures such as core temperature, bodyweight loss, point of fatigue on Phase C and recovery heart rates may serve as the best monitors of positive responses in future studies of proposed modifications to Phase C, rather than those variables which were more distance than weather-related.     

Presence of Epstein-Barr virus in lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the middle ear

AIM: To examine the association of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) with carcinoma of the ear. METHODS: Five non-keratinising squamous cell carcinomas and two undifferentiated carcinomas of the ear were examined. In situ hybridisation was used to localised EBV-encoded RNAs (EBER). Immunohistochemical methods to detect LMP-1 and EBNA2 were performed in the EBER positive cases. RESULTS: Two cases were EBER positive, including one non-keratinising and one undifferentiated carcinoma. Both showed identical morphology to those arising from the nasopharynx, with abundant lymphoid stroma. They were both negative for LMP-1 and EBNA2. CONCLUSIONS: EBV associated carcinoma with the morphology of lymphoepithelioma can also arise from the middle ear.     

Electroless Plating of Copper on Fluorinated Polyimide Films Modified by Plasma Graft Copolymerization and UV‐induced Graft Copolymerization with 4‐Vinylpyridine

Surface modification of two types of fluorinated polyimide (FPI) films, either by plasma polymerization and deposition of 4‐vinylpyridine (4VP) or by UV‐induced graft copolymerization with 4VP under atmospheric conditions, was carried out for adhesion enhancement with the electrolessly deposited copper. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) results revealed that the pyridine groups in the plasma polymerized 4VP (pp‐4VP) layer could be preserved to a large extent under proper glow discharge conditions. The grafted 4VP layer with well‐preserved pyridine groups was used not only as the chemisorption sites for the palladium complexes (without the need for prior sensitization by SnCl₂) during the electroless plating of copper, but also as an adhesion promotion layer for the electrolessly deposited copper. The T‐peel adhesion strength of the electrolessly deposited copper with both the 4VP plasma‐polymerized FPI (pp‐4VP‐FPI) film and the 4VP graft‐copolymerized FPI (4VP‐g‐FPI) film was much higher than that of the electrolessly deposited copper with the pristine or the Ar plasma‐treated FPI films. The high adhesion strength between the electrolessly deposited copper and the surface‐modified FPI film was attributed to the fact that the plasma‐polymerized and the UV graft‐copolymerized 4VP chains were covalently tethered on the FPI surfaces, as well as the fact that these grafted 4VP polymer chains were spatially and reactively distributed into the copper matrix.

     

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A Layered-Encoding Cascade Optimization Approach to Product-Mix Planning in High-Mix–Low-Volume Manufacturing

High-mix-low-volume (HMLV) production is currently a worldwide manufacturing trend. It requires a high degree of customization in the manufacturing process to produce a wide range of products in low quantity in order to meet customers' demand for more variety and choices of products. Such a kind of business environment has increased the conversion time and decreased the production efficiency due to frequent production changeover. In this paper, a layered-encoding cascade optimization (LECO) approach is proposed to develop an HMLV product-mix optimizer that exhibits the benefits of low conversion time, high productivity, and high equipment efficiency. Specifically, the genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) techniques are employed as optimizers for different decision layers in different LECO models. Each GA and PSO optimizer is studied and compared. A number of hypothetical and real data sets from a manufacturing plant are used to evaluate the performance of the proposed GA and PSO optimizers. The results indicate that, with a proper selection of the GA and PSO optimizers, the LECO approach is able to generate high-quality product-mix plans to meet the production demands in HMLV manufacturing environments.     

Molecular cloning, expression, and characterization of a functional single-chain Fv antibody to the mycotoxin zearalenone

The heavy-chain and kappa light-chain variable region genes of an antizearalenone hybridoma cell line (2G3-6E3-2E2) were isolated by PCR and joined by a DNA linker encoding peptide (Gly4Ser)3 as a single-chain Fv (scFv) DNA fragment. The scFv DNA fragment was cloned into a phagemid (pCANTAB5E) and expressed as a fusion protein with E tag and phage M13 p3 in Escherichia coli TG1. In the presence of helper phage M13K07, the scFv fusion protein was displayed on the surfaces of recombinant phages. High-affinity scFv phages were enriched through affinity selection in microtiter wells coated with zearalenone-ovalbumin conjugate. The selected recombinant phages were used to infect E. coli HB2151 for the production of soluble scFv antibodies. One selected clone (pQY1.5) in HB2151 secreted a soluble scFv antibody (QY1.5) with a high zearalenone-binding affinity (concentration required for 50% inhibition of binding, 14 ng/ml), similar to that of parent monoclonal antibody in a competitive indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. However, scFv QY1.5 exhibited higher cross-reactivity with zearalenone analogs and had greater sensitivity to methanol destabilization than the parent monoclonal antibody did. Nucleotide sequence analyses revealed that the light-chain portion of scFv QY1.5 had a nucleotide sequence identity of 97% to a mouse germ line gene VK23.32 in mouse kappa light-chain variable region subgroup V, whereas the heavy-chain nucleotide sequence was classified as mouse heavy-chain subgroup III (D) but without any closely related members having highly homologous complementarity-determining region sequences. The potential of soluble scFv QY1.5 for routine screening of zearalenone and its analogs was demonstrated with zearalenone-spiked corn extracts.     

Surface graft copolymerization enhanced adhesion of an epoxy-basedprinted circuit board substrate (FR-4) to copper

The lamination of surface modified printed circuit board (PCB) substrate, FR-4(R), from argon plasma pretreatment and UV-induced graft copolymerization with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), to copper foil was carried out at elevated temperature and in the presence of an epoxy adhesive. The structure and chemical composition of the graft copolymerized surfaces and interfaces of the glass fiber-reinforced and epoxy-based FR-4 substrates were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The effects of the plasma pretreatment time, the UV illumination time, as well as the curing temperature, on the adhesion strength between the FR-4 substrate and copper were investigated. The assemblies involving GMA graft copolymerized FR-4, or the FR-4-GMA/epoxy resin/Cu assemblies, exhibited a significantly higher interfacial adhesion strength and reliability, in comparison to those assemblies in which only epoxy adhesive alone was used. The enhanced adhesion in the assemblies involving GMA graft copolymerized substrate arises from the fact that the covalently tethered GMA graft chains on the FR-4 surface can become covalently incorporated into the epoxy resin, resulting in the toughening of the epoxy matrix and increased interaction with copper     

Polymer brush coatings for combating marine biofouling

A variety of functional polymer brushes and coatings have been developed for combating marine biofouling and biocorrosion with much less environmental impact than traditional biocides. This review summarizes recent developments in marine antifouling polymer brushes and coatings that are tethered to material surfaces and do not actively release biocides. Polymer brush coatings have been designed to inhibit molecular fouling, microfouling and macrofouling through incorporation or inclusion of multiple functionalities. Hydrophilic polymers, such as poly(ethylene glycol), hydrogels, zwitterionic polymers and polysaccharides, resist attachment of marine organisms effectively due to extensive hydration. Fouling release polymer coatings, based on fluoropolymers and poly(dimethylsiloxane) elastomers, minimize adhesion between marine organisms and material surfaces, leading to easy removal of biofoulants. Polycationic coatings are effective in reducing marine biofouling partly because of their good bactericidal properties. Recent advances in controlled radical polymerization and click chemistry have also allowed better molecular design and engineering of multifunctional brush coatings for improved antifouling efficacies.     

Geographical distribution of tuberculosis notifications in national surveys of England and Wales in 1988 and 1993: report of the Public Health Laboratory Service/British Thoracic Society/Department of Health Collaborative Group

Refractory hypotension with end-organ hypoperfusion is an ominous feature of inflammatory shock. In the past fifteen years, nitric oxide (a diffusible, short-lived product of arginine metabolism) has been found to be an important regulatory molecule in several areas of metabolism, including vascular tone control. Vascular endothelial cells constitutively produce low levels of nitric oxide that regulate blood pressure by mediating adjacent smooth-muscle relaxation. In an inflammatory shock state, cytokines, like interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, induce a separate, high-output form of the enzyme that synthesizes nitric oxide in both endothelial and smooth-muscle cells. The ensuing high rates of nitric oxide formation result in extensive smooth-muscle relaxation, pressor refractory vasodilation, and--ultimately--shock. The concept of the pathogenesis of inflammatory shock explains many limitations of current therapies and may foster the development of new interventions to mitigate the effects of nitric oxide overproduction in this syndrome.