Pregnancy-related changes of carnitine and acylcarnitine concentrations of plasma and erythrocytes

The effect of beta-carotene on the susceptibility of low density lipoprotein (LDL) to oxidative modification was investigated in a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled study. Hypercholesterolaemic, postmenopausal women were given 30 mg beta-carotene per day (n = 15 subjects) or placebo capsules (n = 15 subjects) for 10 weeks. They were instructed to follow the American Heart Association Step One diet. LDL, isolated before and after treatment was subjected to copper-catalysed lipid peroxidation. There were no significant differences between LDL from the beta-carotene and placebo groups, as assessed by measuring the lag time for formation of conjugated dienes; the rate of formation and the amount of conjugated dienes formed; the amount of lipid peroxides generated; and the relative electrophoretic mobility, at baseline and after treatment. Dietary records showed that the subjects were consuming similar amounts and types of fat. No significant differences were found in the lipid composition and fatty acid pattern of LDL from the two groups. In conclusion, the results indicated that supplementation with beta-carotene in non-smoking, hypercholesterolaemic, postmenopausal women had no protective effect on the susceptibility of LDL to copper-catalysed modification in vitro.     

Current trends in rapid tests for mycotoxins

There are an ample number of commercial testing kits available for mycotoxin analysis on the market today, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, membrane-based immunoassays, fluorescence polarisation immunoassays and fluorometric assays. It can be observed from the literature that not only are developments and improvements ongoing for these assays but there are also novel assays being developed using biosensor technology. This review focuses on both the currently available methods and recent innovative methods for mycotoxin testing. Furthermore, it highlights trends that are influencing assay developments such as multiplexing capabilities and rapid on-site analysis, indicating the possible detection methods that will shape the future market.     

Bauzeitplan; Konventionalstrafe

überschaubare kurzfristige Verz?gerungen, die der Sph?re des Werkbesteller zuzurechnen sind, gleichviel ob sie von ihm angeordneten Leistungs?nderungen oder der z?gerlichen Erfüllung von dessen Mitwirkungspflichten entspringen, verl?ngern die vertraglich festgelegten Fertigstellungsfristen entsprechend; die Vertragsstrafe sichert dann die Einhaltung der so modifizierten (verl?ngerten) Ausführungsfristen. überschreiten indes die aus der Sph?re des Werkbestellers herrührenden Verz?gerungen das in erster Linie am Umfang der zu erbringenden Werkleistungen und an der wirtschaftlichen Leistungskraft des Werkunternehmers abzulesende zeitliche Ma? des üblichen, auf das sich jeder Werkunternehmer einzustellen hat, wird also der Zeitplan "über den Haufen geworfen", dann gibt es keine verbindliche Fertigstellungsfrist mehr und die Strafabrede geht ins Leere, selbst wenn der Unternehmer zur Leistung in angemessener Frist verhalten bleibt und insofern auch in Verzug geraten kann. Wird das zeitliche Ma? des üblichen überschritten, kann nur ein tats?chlich eingetretener Verz?gerungsschaden geltend gemacht werden.     

Mehraufwendungen; Bauwerkvertrag; Rügeobliegenheit

Liegen die Umst?nde, die zu Mehraufwendungen führen, tats?chlich in der Sph?re des Bestellers (hier: Mehrerfordernis an Verputzarbeiten durch Wegfall von Holz- bzw Blechfassadenteilen), dann ist selbst bei einem "garantierten" Kostenvorschlag die unverzügliche Rüge einer unvermeidlichen betr?chtlichen überschreitung zur Wahrung des Anspruches des Werkunternehmers auf die Mehrkosten entbehrlich.     

钢包预热过程热应力影响因子及预报模型

运用有限元软件ABAQUS建立钢包包衬的线性弹性模型,模拟钢包预热过程包衬的热应力,分析包衬厚度及其材料物理性能对包衬内最大热应力和钢壳表面温度的影响;采用偏最小二乘法建立包衬厚度及材料物理性能与包衬内最大热应力、钢壳表面温度间的预报模型。结果表明,工作衬材料物理性能对包衬最大应力和钢壳表面温度起主要影响作用;较之于无绝热衬,有绝热衬钢包永久衬材料物理性能对钢包热应力和钢壳表面温度的影响作用显著降低。     

Zeolite Heat Storage: Key Parameters from Experimental Results with Binder-Free NaY

The application of heat storage systems in households or the industry is one possibility to optimize the degree of heat utilization and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In contrast to established heat storage systems based on water, zeolitic systems reach energy densities of 150–200 kWh m⁻³ and allow for seasonal storage with almost no heat loss. However, a commercial breakthrough was not yet successful. Given this background, it is the aim of the present study to identify appropriate operational parameters for a zeolite heat storage system in the laboratory and to prepare an upscaling to demonstration scale. To this end, the pressure drop of the zeolite bed, the cycle time, and the optimal process parameters during thermal loading and deloading were determined.     

Immunohistochemical expression of the mucin-type glycoprotein A-80 and prognosis in human breast cancer

Immunohistochemical expression of the tumour associated mucin-type glycoprotein A-80 was investigated in a series of 173 breast cancer patients with a clinical follow-up between 13 and 19 years. A routine immunoperoxidase technique was used in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded surgical tumour specimens. One hundred and fifty of 173 tumours (87%) immunostained with MAb A-80. The degree of A-80 immunoreactivity was related to the tumour grade but not to lymph node status, tumour size, or nuclear DNA distribution pattern. In univariate analysis the degree of A-80 expression was found to be of significant prognostic value both in node negative and in node positive breast cancer patients (P = 0.03). Patients with non-A-80 immunoreactive tumours had significant longer distant metastases-free survival times and fewer relapses than women with carcinomas composed of A-80 immunoreactive tumour cells. This prognostic value was reduced in a multivariate analysis, including lymph node status, tumour size, and nuclear DNA distribution pattern, but retained borderline significance (P = 0.08). In conclusion, the findings of this study indicate that expression of the mucin-type glycoprotein A-80 as determined by immunohistochemistry seems to be related to clinical outcome in breast cancer patients.     

Cost analysis for thoracoscopy: thoracoscopic wedge resection

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) procedures are now being performed with increasing frequency. The instrumentation and video equipment continue to evolve and much of this new technology is expensive. We reviewed our experience with VATS in our most recent 150 cases for the purpose of cost analysis. The costs incurred in patients undergoing VATS wedge resection for nodules (n = 45) were compared with those in similar patients having wedge resection using open techniques (n = 31). We found that patients who undergo open resections were more likely to spend time in the intensive care unit after surgery. The anesthesia costs were similar in the two groups. Disposable instrument costs were $623 higher for VATS resection; however, the operative time was shorter (101.4 minutes for VATS versus 122.5 minutes for the open procedure), making the total operating room costs comparable. The length of hospital stay was shorter after VATS resection (4.4 days for VATS versus 6.5 days for the open procedure), resulting in lower total hospital charges in the VATS group; however, this difference was not statistically significant. The cost of a VATS wedge resection for removing peripheral nodules is competitive with that of open techniques. Additional benefits, such as reduced pain, shorter operating times, and decreased hospital stays, make thoracoscopy a valuable diagnostic tool. The length of hospital stay, operating room time, disposable instrument costs, complications, and patient acuity all have an impact on the total costs and vary for different procedures. The operative time has shortened and the use of disposable instrumentation has lessened as our experience with thoracoscopy has increased.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)