Confirmation that Thiobacillus halophilus and Thiobacillus hydrothermalis are distinct species within the gamma-subclass of the Proteobacteria

BACKGROUND: There is controversy regarding the most appropriate investigation for suspected colorectal carcinoma. We offered these patients same-day flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS) and double-contrast barium enema (DCBE). METHODS: We reviewed the results of 117 consecutive adult patients. All patients underwent FS followed by DCBE on the same day. The radiographs were reviewed by two of the authors who were blinded to the clinical information, flexible sigmoidoscopy reports, and the original DCBE report. RESULTS: One hundred seventeen patients made up the study population. Thirty-four of the 117 patients had polyps and/or carcinoma. Three malignant tumours were detected by DCBE; one of these was also seen on FS, and the other two cancers were out of FS range. Fifty-three polyps were found by FS; nine were removed by biopsy prior to the enema examination. Of the 44 remaining polyps, DCBE failed to detect 87% of the 0-9-mm group and 67% of the >9-mm group. Ten polyps were seen only on DCBE; seven of these 10 were beyond the range of the sigmoidoscope, and the three remaining polyps were less than 5 mm. CONCLUSION: DCBE is insensitive in the detection of rectosigmoid polyps. FS should continue to be used as a complementary examination to DCBE in the investigation of suspected colorectal carcinoma.     

Improved Operating Parameters for Hydrogen Peroxide-Generating Gas Diffusion Electrodes

The influence of process parameters on the H₂O₂ yield of gas diffusion electrodes (GDE) are investigated. The investigated GDEs consist of Vulcan XC72 carbon black and PTFE on gold-plated nickel wire cloth. An electrolysis cell is used to evaluate the influence of various process parameters, such as temperature, pH value, oxygen pressure and stoichiometric factor, electrolyte flow regime, current density and separator material at steady-state conditions. It is found that the investigated GDE enables current efficiencies greater than 90 % at up to 2 kA m⁻², whereby lower electrolyte temperatures and higher pH values contribute to higher H₂O₂ yields above 90 % current efficiency.     

Full-scale field test of a model predictive control system for a 3 MW wind turbine

Model predictive control (MPC) is a strong candidate for modern wind turbine control. While the design of model predictive wind turbine controllers in simulations has been extensively investigated in academic studies, the application of these controllers to real wind turbines reveals open research challenges. In this work, we focus on the validation of a linear time-variant MPC system for a 3 MW wind turbine in a full-scale field test. First, the study proves the MPC’s capability to control the real wind turbine in the partial load region. Compared to the turbine’s baseline PID controller, the MPC system offers similar results for the electrical power output and for the occurring mechanical loads. Second, the study validates a previously proposed, simulation-based rapid control prototyping process for a systematic MPC development. The systematic development process allows to completely design and parameterize the MPC system in a simulative environment independent of the real wind turbine. Through the rapid control prototyping process, the MPC commissioning in the wind turbine’s programmable logic controller can be realized within a few hours without any modifications required in the field. Thus, this study establishes the proof of concept for a linear time-variant MPC system for a 3 MW wind turbine in a full-scale field test and bridges the gap between the control design and field testing of MPC systems for wind turbines in the multi-megawatt range.

     

On the solutions of maxwell-stefan equations for multicomponent film model

Literature dealing with multicomponent mass transfer presents two distinctly different relationships defining diffusion fluxes at a phase boundary in mThe first relationship results from the solution of continuity equations according to the so-called linearized theory of multicomponent mass transfer.According to the first “linearized approach” this influence depends solely on the net total mixture flux, in the second “exact” approach this iTheoretical analysis presented in this paper shows that the influence of finite mass transfer rates on diffusion fluxes can be attriuted only to the neThe difference between the relationships describing diffusion fluxes based on the linearized model and those based on the exact solution is accounted f     

Plasticity of foraging behavior in garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) reared on different diets.

The ontogeny of foraging was studied in 107 neonatal garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) reared on 3 different diets: fish, leafworms, or mixed. Times to approach, capture, handle, and swallow prey were measured during each snake's first feeding and again after 11 to 12 meals. Overall times to consume prey decreased between the first and last tests for the 3 groups, but both prey type and the relative amounts of prey consumed differentially affected the various feeding phases. Approach latencies significantly decreased for snakes fed worms or fish exclusively but not for the mixed-diet snakes. The degrees to which capturing and swallowing latencies decreased differed among diet groups. Diet had little effect on prey handling duration. Sex and litter effects were reduced after feeding experience. These results reveal flexibility in feeding behavior as well as the costs and benefits of experience with multiple prey classes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Glycosylation dependent cell adhesion molecule 1-like protein and L-selectin expression in sheep interplacentomal and placentomal endometrium

Glycosylation dependent cell adhesion molecule 1 (GlyCAM-1), a mucin component of sheep histotroph produced by glandular epithelium (GE) during early pregnancy, is hypothesized to function in implantation. However, GlyCAM-1 is present in uterine tissues subsequent to implantation suggesting additional functions of this l-selectin-binding ligand. This study focused on uterine GlyCAM-1 expression during placentome development in sheep. Western blot analysis of day 50 pregnant sheep identified 45, 40, and 25 kDa bands in interplacentomal endometrium, 40 and 25 kDa bands in placentomes, and 80 and 40 kDa bands in chorioallantois. The GlyCAM-1 proteins in interplacentomal regions were comparable to those detected in day 15-19 pregnant sheep, however, the 80 kDa form was unique to chorioallantois, and the absence of the 45 kDa GlyCAM-1 in placentomes indicated differences between interplacentomal and placentomal endometrium. Immunofluorescence identified GlyCAM-1 in lumenal epithelium (LE), stromal fibroblasts, and vascular smooth muscle cells. To better define its cellular distribution, GlyCAM-1 was co-localized with either epithelium-specific cytokeratin, smooth muscle-specific alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha SMA), or stromal-specific vimentin. In interplacentomal endometrium, GlyCAM-1 co-localized with cytokeratin in LE but not in GE. GlyCAM-1 did not co-localize with alpha SMA, and was localized in the extracellular matrix of vimentin-positive stroma. In placentomes, GlyCAM-1 did not co-localize with cytokeratin, but did co-localize with alpha SMA and vimentin. Thus, in contrast to interplacentomal regions, GlyCAM-1 in placentomes was predominantly localized in vasculature rather than epithelial cells. Further, leukocytes expressing L-selectin were localized to the endothelial surface of GlyCAM-1-expressing vessels within placentomes. These data suggest that GlyCAM-1 assumes distinct functions in compartment-specific regions of the sheep uterus.     

The IGF system in the neonatal ovine uterus

Postnatal development of the ovine uterus primarily involves uterine gland morphogenesis or adenogenesis. Adenogenesis involves the budding differentiation of the glandular epithelium (GE) from the luminal epithelium (LE) and then GE proliferation and coiling/branching morphogenetic development within the stroma between birth (postnatal day or PND 0) and PND 56. Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF-II mRNAs were previously found to be expressed only in the endometrial stroma, whereas the IGF receptor (IGF-1R) mRNA was most abundant in epithelia and in stroma, suggesting that an intrinsic IGF system regulates postnatal development of the uterus. Given that the biological activities of IGFs are modulated by a family of six IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) and specific proteases, the objective was to determine the effects of age and estrogen disruption on expression of IGFs, IGFBPs and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A or IGFBP-4 protease) in the ovine uterus. In Study One, circulating levels of IGF-I and IGF-II in the serum of neonatal ewes did not change between PND 0 and PND 56. Levels of immunoreactive IGF-I, IGF-II and IGF-1R protein were most abundant on the apical surface of the endometrial LE and GE. RT-PCR analyses detected expression of IGFBPs (3, 4, 5 and 6) as well as PAPP-A mRNAs in the uterus, but not IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-2 mRNAs. IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-4 mRNAs were expressed specifically in the endometrial stroma and myometrium and increased after birth. PAPP-A mRNA was expressed specifically in the endometrial stroma and increased after birth. In Study Two, ewes were treated from birth with estradiol-17beta valerate (EV), which reduces uterine growth and inhibits endometrial adenogenesis. On PNDs 14 and 56, IGFBP-3 mRNA was decreased in the uterus of EV-treated ewes, but IGF-1R and IGFBP-4 mRNAs were not affected. PAPP-A mRNA was increased by EV treatment on PND 14, but decreased on PND 56. These results support the hypothesis that an intrinsic IGF system in the uterus regulates epithelial-stromal interactions important for postnatal uterine growth and endometrial gland morphogenesis in the sheep.     

Galectin-15 in ovine uteroplacental tissues

Galectin-15 is the newest member of a secreted beta-galactoside-binding lectin family. The galectin-15 gene is expressed specifically by the endometrial luminal epithelium (LE) and superficial ductal glandular epithelium (sGE) of the ovine uterus. The proposed extracellular role of secreted galec7tin-15 is to regulate implantation and placentation by functioning as a heterophilic cell adhesion molecule between the conceptus trophectoderm and endometrial LE, while that of intracellular galectin-15 is to regulate cell survival, differentiation and function. The present study determined galectin-15 expression in uteroplacental tissues during gestation and in the postpartum uterus. In the uterine lumen, secreted galectin-15 was found as multimers, particularly on days 14 and 16 of pregnancy. In the endometrial epithelium and conceptus trophectoderm, intracellular galectin-15 protein was found associated with crystalline structures. Between days 20 and 120 of pregnancy, galectin-15 mRNA was expressed specifically by the LE and sGE of the intercaruncular endometrium of ewes. Immunoreactive galectin-15 protein was most abundant in the trophectoderm with lower levels in the endometrial LE and sGE. Galectin-15 protein was detected in allantoic fluid, but not in amniotic fluid. After parturition, galectin-15 mRNA declined in the endometrium from postpartum day (PPD) 1 to 28 and exhibited a variegated expression pattern in the LE and sGE. These results indicate that galectin-15 is synthesized and secreted throughout gestation by the endometrial LE/sGE and is absorbed by the placenta and forms crystals within the trophectoderm, whereas the remainder is cleared into the allantois after being transported into the fetal circulation via the placental areolae. Based on the biological properties of other galectin family members, galectin-15 is hypothesized to have biological roles in conceptus-endometrial interactions, uterine immune and inflammatory responses, and placental morphogenesis and function.