Collagenous colitis and Yersinia enterocolitica infection

Collagenous colitis is a rare clinical and pathological entity characterized by watery diarrhea and deposition of collagen beneath the surface epithelium of the colon. Its etiology is unknown. We present a careful retrospective clinicopathological analysis of six patients with collagenous colitis diagnosed at our hospital during a three-year period. Three of the patients had had a Yersinia enterocolitica infection, detected by stool culture and elevated serum antibody titers, preceding the diagnosis of collagenous colitis. Four patients had duodenal villous atrophy, which in two patients was refractory to a gluten-free diet. We propose that Yersinia enterocolitica infection may be a triggering factor for the development of collagenous colitis in some cases. Duodenal villous atrophy not responding to gluten withdrawal is common in association with collagenous colitis.     

Removal of soft deposits from the distribution system improves the drinking water quality

Deterioration in drinking water quality in distribution networks represents a problem in drinking water distribution. These can be an increase in microbial numbers, an elevated concentration of iron or increased turbidity, all of which affect taste, odor and color in the drinking water. We studied if pipe cleaning would improve the drinking water quality in pipelines. Cleaning was arranged by flushing the pipes with compressed air and water. The numbers of bacteria and the concentrations of iron and turbidity in drinking water were highest at 9 p.m., when the water consumption was highest. Soft deposits inside the pipeline were occasionally released to bulk water, increasing the concentrations of iron, bacteria, microbially available organic carbon and phosphorus in drinking water. The cleaning of the pipeline decreased the diurnal variation in drinking water quality. With respect to iron, only short-term positive effects were obtained. However, removing of the nutrient-rich soft deposits did decrease the microbial growth in the distribution system during summer when there were favorable warm temperatures for microbial growth. No Norwalk-like viruses or coliform bacteria were detected in the soft deposits, in contrast to the high numbers of heterotrophic bacteria.     

Powering Internet with power-law networking

It is generally recognized that the current routing scheme of Internet suffers from serious scalability problems. In this paper, we work with the abstract but ??Internet-like?? network model consisting of an infinite-variance power-law random graph (IVPLRG). We adopt the idea of a routing scheme proposed by Carmi, Cohen and Dolev (C-C-D). The scheme fits very naturally to the spontaneously emerging ??soft hierarchy?? architecture on an IVPLRG. The use of multiple addresses is suggested as a solution to the inflexibility of the pure C-C-D scheme. A mean-field approximation is introduced for efficient computation of relevant quantitative characteristics and applied to various problems of our scheme. We review a few recent Internet routing proposals and discuss their relation to our scheme. We find out that the topology creation of our scheme offers advantages in terms of scalability and routing policy control.     

Controlled partial neutralization of amphoteric ion exchange resin for improved metals separation

Controlled partial neutralization of an amphoteric aminomethylphosphonium functional ion exchange resin (Lewatit TP-260) was investigated. The particular goal of controlled neutralization was to replace H⁺ in the acidic phosphonium groups with Na⁺ ions but leave the basic amino groups protonated. In this manner, metals’ sorption is enhanced and undesired pH changes during the metal separation process are avoided. The conjugate bases of organic weak acids (sodium formiate, sodium acetate and sodium citrate), sodium phosphate and NaOH were studied as neutralizing agents. The organic acid salts and sodium phosphate were all found to be suitable. Lengthening the neutralization cycle and using more concentrated neutralization agents were found to yield higher extents of neutralization and more uniform profiles along a resin bed. Concentrated NaOH also neutralized the amine group from the resin. With dilute NaOH, desired extent of neutralization was not achieved within a reasonable time. The effect of partial neutralization on metal sorption was tested with dynamic single column experiments. 5.5 BV of Ag–NaCl solution could be purified from Ca, Mg, Pb and Zn when the resin was partially neutralized with 2.0 M NaAc. With the acid form resin, the impurity metals broke through at 1.0 BV.     

Impact of human operators on communication network dependability

There is a scarcity of scientific literature about the characteristics of the control work and its demands in the critical domain of telecommunication. The motivation of the paper is to shed light on the context and content of the human operators’ work in maintaining the dependability of telecommunication networks. A case study was accomplished in a large telecommunication company. The research focused on clarifying the impact of human operators on the dependability of telecommunication network. Interviews confirmed earlier assumption among members of the communication network operations (CNO) community that the human operator has an important impact on the network dependability. Specific sources of errors in daily work were identified and strategies of avoiding erroneous action were described. By utilising core-task analysis and modelling approach, we defined generic control demands of the CNO work domain, and operators’ ways of coping with these demands. Regarding human dependability of communication network operations, a combination of resilient and proactive ways of acting is needed. Due to daily changes in the network and the continuous increase of its complexity, specifically change management on both organisational and work practice levels was required. The study is restricted to one Finnish telecommunication company, which limits possible empirical generalisation of the findings.     

Governance and political consumerism in Finnish energy policy-making

The research task in the study was, firstly, to analyse citizens’ perceptions of the power structure underlying Finnish energy policy-making. Secondly, we analysed the role of civil society in the energy sector, addressing the question whether Finns feel that they can influence energy policy-making as citizens through general elections (civic participation) or as consumers via their own consumption choices (political consumerism). Methodologically, the study was based on postal survey conducted in 2007 among a random sample representing 18–75-year-old Finns (N=4000). According to the views expressed, the innermost core of the influence structure of Finland's energy policy-making today comprises only the Cabinet and Parliament, while the second circle is composed of energy-producer firms and big firms. The European Union, the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Trade and Industry belong to the third circle of influence. The power relations in Finland's energy sector have continued particularly stable since the late 1980s despite the liberalization and globalization of the energy markets. In order to influence energy policy-making, citizens consider their own consumption choices more useful than voting in elections or contacts with MPs, authorities and energy-producing companies. The least useful devices are radical environmental activism and participation in mass demonstrations.     

Individual and Joint Impacts of Ethanol Use,BMI, Age and Gender on Serum Gamma-Glutamyltransferase Levels in Healthy Volunteers

Excessive ethanol consumption, obesity and increasing age may all lead to increased serum levels of gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) enzyme, which plays a key role in the metabolism of extracellular reduced glutathione. However, as yet, the interactions between the various modulators of GGT activities have remained poorly defined. We analyzed data from 15,617 apparently healthy individuals (7254 men and 8363 women, mean age 46 ± 13 years, range 25–74 years) who participated in a national cross-sectional health survey in Finland between 1997 and 2007. All subjects underwent detailed clinical examinations and interviews, including the amount of ethanol use and smoking habits. GGT levels were measured from all participants, and the individual and joint impacts of the different study variables on GGT levels were assessed. Significant individual effects were noted for ethanol use (p < 0.001), body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.001), age (p < 0.001) and smoking (p < 0.001). In men, significant two-factor interactions occurred between ethanol use and age (p < 0.020). Among those over 40 years of age, ethanol consumption was found to be a stronger determinant of increased GGT levels than in men below 40 years, whereas in the latter age group, BMI was found to predominate. In women, a significant two-factor interaction occurred between ethanol and BMI (p = 0.010), whereas it did not with ethanol use and age. The data underscores the role of ethanol consumption and age as major determinants of increased GGT levels in men, whereas in women, a relatively stronger impact was noted for ethanol intake and BMI. In light of the ability of GGT enzyme to modulate crucial redox-sensitive functions, the present findings also support the use of GGT as a biomarker of oxidative stress.     

Growth and surface engineering of vertically-aligned low-wall-number carbon nanotubes

A novel catalyst of cobalt supported by single crystal MgO was prepared by atomic layer deposition and used for carbon nanotube growth. With CO as carbon source, vertically-aligned carbon nanotubes with predominant double-walled (82%) were produced at 700 °C. Similar carbon nanotube array with a majority of single-walled tubes (62%) was produced at 900 °C using methane as the carbon source. Due to their high flexibility compared with multi-walled carbon nanotubes, the low-wall-number carbon nanotube array could form a 3-dimensional honeycomb-like network when being spread with acetone.     

Effects of supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on cognitive performance and cardiometabolic risk markers in healthy 51 to 72 years old subjects: a randomized controlled cross-over study

Background

One of the major challenges associated with our ageing population is the increasing incidence of age-associated cognitive decline, which has significant implications for an individual's ability to lead a productive and fulfilling life. In pure economic terms the costs of ageing reflects decreased productivity and engagement with the workforce. The maintenance of brain health underpinning intact cognition is a key factor to maintaining a positive, engaged, and productive lifestyle. In light of this, the role of diet, including supplementation with nutritional and even pharmacological interventions capable of ameliorating the neurocognitive changes that occur with age constitute vital areas of research.

Methods

In order to reduce cognitive ageing, the ARC longevity intervention (ARCLI) was developed to examine the effects of two promising natural pharmacologically active supplements on cognitive performance. ARCLI is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, 3-arm clinical trial in which 465 participants will be randomized to receive an extract of Bacopa monnieri (CDRI08 300 mg/day), Pycnogenol (150 mg/day), or placebo daily for 12 months. Participants will be tested at baseline and then at 3, 6 and 12 months post-randomization on a wide battery of cognitive, neuropsychological and mood measures, cardiovascular (brachial and aortic systolic and diastolic blood pressures as well as arterial stiffness), biochemical (assays to measure inflammation, oxidative stress and safety) as well as genetic assessments (telomere length and several Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms). The primary aim is to investigate the effects of these supplements on cognitive performance. The secondary aims are to explore the time-course of cognitive enhancement as well as potential cardiovascular and biochemical mechanisms underpinning cognitive enhancement over the 12 months of administration. ARCLI will represent one of the largest and most comprehensive experimental clinical trials in which supplements are administered to elderly participants. Results from ARCLI may help develop novel preventative health practices and nutritional/pharmacological targets in the elderly for cognitive and brain health.

Trial registration

Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register (ANZCTR): ACTRN12611000487910