The effect of ribosome-inactivating proteins on the ribosome from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus

Ten cadaver digits were used to evaluate excursion resistance between a tendon and pulley after completing 4 methods of pulley reconstruction (Bunnell's, Kleinert's, Lister's, and Karev's techniques). Five tissues (palmaris longus tendon, extensor digitorum tendon, flexor digitorum superficialis tendon, extensor retinaculum, and volar plate) were used to reconstruct the A2 pulley. Intrasynovial tissue sources (extensor retinaculum, volar plate, and flexor digitorum superficialis tendon) produced less excursion resistance than extrasynovial tissue sources (extensor digitorum tendon and palmaris longus tendon). The models using the extensor retinaculum and volar plate as reconstructive materials produced less excursion resistance than the normal A2 pulley, whereas the models using the palmaris longus tendon produced the highest excursion resistance. Bunnell's technique of pulley reconstruction produced less excursion resistance than Kleinert's technique with all 3 tissues tested. The results of the in vitro study of excursion resistance between the tendon and reconstructed pulley demonstrated that Lister's technique of pulley reconstruction using the extensor retinaculum produced the least resistance to tendon gliding.     

Two-dimensional ultra-thin-layer chromatography and atmospheric pressure matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry in bioanalysis

The feasibility of ultra-thin-layer chromatography (UTLC) and atmospheric pressure matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (AP-MALDI-MS) for bioanalysis was studied with benzodiazepines as model substances in human urine. Two-dimensional (2D) UTLC was shown to be an efficient technique for the separation of benzodiazepines. Separations occurred in 4-12 min, and the separated compounds were identified by AP-MALDI-MS. The limits of detection with AP-MALDI-MS and AP-MALDI-MS/MS were in the picomole range and thus low enough for bioanalysis. The applicability of the 2D UTLC-AP-MALDI-MS was demonstrated in detection of metabolites with an authentic biological urine sample.     

Robust System for Indoor Localisation and Identification for the Health Care Environment

In this study, an improved version of the low-frequency indoor location system, with a larger detection range and more durable antenna laminate, is presented. The basic system uses quad antennas, placed under the floor surface, to locate tags with 125-kHz radio signals. The improvements were achieved with a one-layer laminate construction and transmitter electronics that can feed larger currents to the antennas. The measured tag detection height was 2 m, which is adequate for location applications. The low-frequency signal was not affected by normal objects. The tag location reliability of 96.3% was verified with a practical test.     

Health dietary practices among European students.

Predictors of 5 healthy dietary habits were examined in data from the European Health and Behaviour Survey (A. Steptoe & J. Wardle, 1996), a study of over 16,000 students from 21 European countries. The level of practice of these healthy dietary habits was low. Significant univariate associations with healthy dietary habits were identified for gender, weight, dieting status, dietary health beliefs, nutrition knowledge, and health locus of control. In multivariate analyses, only gender, dieting status, and dietary health beliefs were significant predictors of healthy dietary habits. The practical implications of these results for dietary health promotion are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Radiant panel and air heating performance in large industrial buildings

This study determined the vertical temperature gradient in two large industrial buildings with room height close to 10 m. One of the buildings was an assembly hall with air heating system and the other was a warehouse equipped with radiant heating (primary) and air heating (secondary) system. The objective of the study was to determine the differences of vertical temperature gradient in halls during the winter. The findings from this study were used in dynamic whole-year simulations for estimating the heating and ventilation energy differences. The results showed about 0.2 K/m vertical temperature gradients in both halls, which was smaller by a factor of 5 for air heating than guidebook. This difference was likely because of the building being ventilated and well insulated. Temperature gradients kept reasonably constant at all measured outdoor temperatures. Energy simulations with measured gradient values of 0.2 K/m and with outdoor airflow rate during occupied hours 1.0 L/(s·m²), which was enough for ventilation and for air heating with simulated good insulation level, resulted in 15% to 41% higher primary energy for air heating. If it is possible to lower outdoor airflow rates to 0.5 L/(s·m²) during occupied hours, which was enough to remove pollutants from occupancy, the analyzed cases showed 23% lower primary energy for radiant heating.     

Understanding EU Crisis Decision‐making: The Case of Chechnya and the Finnish Presidency

Why did the European Union accept a limited policy risk by adopting sanctions against a difficult target, Russia, in the Chechnya conflict and what does this case tell about the EU's crisis management practice? The explanation of the decision is based on problem framing, the exertion of power and the justifications of decision‐making. The analysis shows that occasionally the Union may adopt a bold policy, if a situation is framed as a grave crisis, a strong leadership of large members emerges advocating a firm response and pressures of public opinion preclude passivity; in addition, the policy is considered justified by groupthink based on anticipation, by institutional arguments as well as lessons learnt, which are likely to lead to stronger commitments. Yet the policy is likely to be a bounded one because of constraining values and goals, previous institutional commitments and practices, countervailing policy lessons and rational recognition of the Union's limited influence. Moreover, a bold policy may prove to be inconsistent over time. As a rule the pivotal role of large EU members, established practices as well as the decentralisation and consensus‐seeking tendencies combine to limit the Union's crisis response to a restricted and supporting diplomatic and economic role. The ongoing efforts to enhance the EU's crisis management capacity are yet to change significantly these habitual patterns.     

Reflectance study of compressed paper

Reflectance of three paper grades was investigated using a pressure gauge, an imaging system, and a spectrophotometer. It was observed that under high pressure, dark-colored areas appear in paper when using the imaging system. The area of the dark pattern increases as the pressure is raised. Reflectance measurements as a function of wavelength confirmed that the dark patterns appear due to the contact of the paper and the probe window of the pressure gauge. Based on results by other researchers the amount and the nature of optical contact observed depends on structural properties of paper such as surface roughness, formation, and compressibility. Although there are differences in the spectral properties of different paper grades they all share the common feature that the reflectance is decreasing as a function of the applied pressure. An empiric result for the fine and the super-calendered (SC) paper samples measured is that they both have an exponential dependence of total reflectance as a function of applied pressure when the illumination wavelength is kept constant.     

Chemical composition, mass size distribution and source analysis of long-range transported wildfire smokes in Helsinki

Special episodes of long-range transported particulate (PM) air pollution were investigated in a one-month field campaign at an urban background site in Helsinki, Finland. A total of nine size-segregated PM samplings of 3- or 4-day duration were made between August 23 and September 23, 2002. During this warm and unusually dry period there were two (labelled P2 and P5) sampling periods when the PM2.5 mass concentration increased remarkably. According to the hourly-measured PM data and backward air mass trajectories, P2 (Aug 23-26) represented a single, 64-h episode of long-range transported aerosol, whereas P5 (Sept 5-9) was a mixture of two 16- and 14-h episodes and usual seasonal air quality. The large chemical data set, based on analyses made by ion chromatography, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, X-ray fluorescence analysis and smoke stain reflectometry, demonstrated that the PM2.5 mass concentrations of biomass signatures (i.e. levoglucosan, oxalate and potassium) and of some other compounds associated with biomass combustion (succinate and malonate) increased remarkably in P2. Crustal elements (Fe, Al, Ca and Si) and unidentified matter, presumably consisting to a large extent of organic material, were also increased in P2. The PM2.5 composition in P5 was different from that in P2, as the inorganic secondary aerosols (NO3-, SO4(2-), NH4+) and many metals reached their highest concentration in this period. The water-soluble fraction of potassium, lead and manganese increased in both P2 and P5. Mass size distributions (0.035-10 microm) showed that a large accumulation mode mainly caused the episodically increased PM2.5 concentrations. An interesting observation was that the episodes had no obvious impact on the Aitken mode. Finally, the strongly increased concentrations of biomass signatures in accumulation mode proved that the episode in P2 was due to long-range transported biomass combustion aerosol.     

Transcrystallinity phenomena in a polypropylene/kevlar fiber system. I: Influence of crystallization conditions

The isothermal crystallization from the melt of isotactic polypropylene in the presence of Kevlar 49 fibers has been investigated. The nucleating ability of the fibers was demonstrated, and the presence of extensive transcrystalline regions was related to crystallization parameters, such as crystallization temperature, melt precrystallization temperature, and residence time at precrystallization temperature. The results are discussed in terms of the presence of heterogeneities in the bulk and preformed self-seeded nuclei located in the anfractuosities of fiber surfaces.