Health sector reform: priorities and packages

Using time-resolved fluorometry, a simple one-step dual-label immunometric assay has been developed, which allows simultaneous determination of pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) and free beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta-hCG) in first-trimester maternal serum samples. Two monoclonal antibodies were biotinylated and immobilized onto the surface of streptavidin-coated microtitration plates, and used to capture PAPP-A and beta-hCG. respectively. Europium (Eu) and Samarium (Sm) chelates were conjugated to two additional monoclonal antibodies acting as detection antibodies for PAPP-A and beta-hCG. The assay was performed using a 4-h one-step format. The within-run precision with buffer-based calibrators was below 8% over the working range of PAPP-A (40-10000 mIU/l) and beta-hCG (7.3-525 micrograms/l) and no hook effect was observed. The intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were below 7.1% for serum samples. PAPP-A and beta-hCG concentrations measured by the dual assay in 39 first-trimester serum samples correlated excellently with those obtained by DELFIA single-label PAPP-A (r = 0.997) and the beta-hCG part (r = 0.993) of the DELFIA AFP/beta hCG dual-label assay.     

Barocalorimetric technique for monitoring pressurized copolymer reactors

The problem of on‐line estimation of the conversion and composition evolutions in a pressurized batch copolymer reactor with temperature and pressure measurements was addressed. The estimation model consisted of mass and energy balances with a pressure equation built from phase‐equilibrium considerations. The application of a nonlinear geometric estimation approach yielded the underlying solvability condition with physical meaning, a straightforward estimator construction, and a conventional‐like tuning procedure. The resulting barocalorimetric estimator was an on‐line dynamic measurement processor with a model‐based predictor and a measurement‐driven corrector, and whose implementation did not require the polymerization rates and heat‐transfer coefficient function dependencies. The technique was tested with a representative laboratory styrene–butadiene system. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 475–482, 2005     

OBSERVER: An Approach for Query Processing in Global Information Systems Based on Interoperation Across Pre-Existing Ontologies

There has been an explosion in the types, availability and volume of data accessible in an information system, thanks to the World Wide Web (the Web) and related inter-networking technologies. In this environment, there is a critical need to replace or complement earlier database integration approaches and current browsing and keyword-based techniques with concept-based approaches. Ontologies are increasingly becoming accepted as an important part of any concept or semantics based solution, and there is increasing realization that any viable solution will need to support multiple ontologies that may be independently developed and managed. In particular, we consider the use of concepts from pre-existing real world domain ontologies for describing the content of the underlying data repositories. The most challenging issue in this approach is that of vocabulary sharing, which involves dealing with the use of different terms or concepts to describe similar information. In this paper, we describe the architecture, design and implementation of the OBSERVER system. Brokering across the domain ontologies is enabled by representing and utilizing interontology relationships such as (but not limited to) synonyms, hyponyms and hypernyms across terms in different ontologies. User queries are rewritten by using these relationships to obtain translations across ontologies. Well established metrics like precision and recall based on the extensions underlying the concepts are used to estimate the loss of information, if any.     

Effect of cavity surface coating and molding parameters on pressure drop: Developing a new software for rapid calculations

Nowadays, many of the plastic components are aesthetic pieces, and they are fabric, thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs), or film coated. In the case of upholstered pieces, they are injected onto a textile tissue introduced into the mold, and they are finished with an edging process. Simulation programs used to optimize the injection process are not able to simulate the injection over fabrics, and therefore, it is difficult to select an injection machine without knowing the pressure drop inside the mold and without knowing how the parameters affect to the injection cycle or to the aesthetic aspect of this kind of pieces. This article presents a software for rapid calculations during the filling phase without the need for complex modeling. The program will be able to calculate pressure drop and other flow parameters that are fundamental for a good design of an industrial mold used in in‐mold decoration (IMD) technique. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2012. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Safety of absorbable suture for sternal closure after pulmonary or mediastinal resection

The reliability of polyglyconate monofilament (Maxon) suture for sternal closure was tested on 216 consecutive sternotomies, performed on 208 patients in our department from January 1986 to December 1990. The reason of sternotomy was primary lung cancer in 34 cases (16%), lung metastases in 127 (59%), and disorders of the thymus in 55 (25%). Mean age was 38 years (range 3 to 78 years); multiple lung resections were performed in 102 patients (average 7 lesions, range 2 to 30); maximum extent of the operation was pneumonectomy in 2 cases, lobectomy in 53, segmentectomy in 27, and wedge resection in 74. Prior chemotherapy had been administered in 75 cases (35%). A second sternotomy was performed in 8 cases. No cases of sternal dehiscence, sternal infection, or empyema were observed, after a median follow-up of 27 months. Overall perioperative mortality was 0.9% (2/216). Our series demonstrates the safety of polyglyconate monofilament (Maxon) suture for sternal closure. Absorbable sutures appear to be a safe alternative to steel wire closure in patients undergoing extended pulmonary or mediastinal resection.     

Albumin-containing sol–gel glasses: Chemical and biological study

Glasses incorporating increasing amounts of bovine serum albumin were prepared by sol-gel techniques from a tetra methoxy silane precursor. The surface of the glass samples was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, revealing that the protein is present also in the superficial layer of the silica network. Moreover, the protein is distributed in a dose-dependent way, since the N/Si atomic ratio increases linearly with the albumin concentration in the reaction mixture. Angle-dependent measurements show that the protein distribution occurs homogeneously and is the same at different sampling depths. Protein incorporation in the bulk SiO2 network, with a uniform protein distribution between bulk and surface, is confirmed by infrared spectroscopy measurements, performed both in reflectance and transmittance mode. The reaction with a specific antibody and the adhesivity assay of osteoblastic cells show that embedded albumin present on the glass surface is able to interact with other proteins.     

Peroxisome proliferation as a biomarker in environmental pollution assessment

Peroxisome proliferators comprise a heterogeneous group of compounds known for their ability to cause massive proliferation of peroxisomes and liver carcinogenesis in rodents. In recent years it has become evident that other animals may be threatened by peroxisome proliferators, in particular aquatic organisms living in coastal and estuarine areas. These animals are exposed to a variety of pollutants of industrial, agricultural and urban origin which are potential peroxisome proliferators. Both laboratory and field studies have shown that phthalate ester plasticizers, PAHs and oil derivatives, PCBs, certain pesticides, bleached kraft pulp and paper mill effluents, alkylphenols and estrogens provoke peroxisome proliferation in different fish or bivalve mollusc species. The response appears to be mediated by peroxisome-proliferator activated receptors, members of the nuclear receptor family, recently cloned in fish. Based on these results it is proposed that peroxisome proliferation could be used as a biomarker of exposure to a variety of pollutants in environmental pollution assessment. This is illustrated by a case study in which mussels, used worldwide as sentinels of environmental pollution, were transplanted from reference to contaminated areas and vice versa. In mussels native to an area polluted with PAHs and PCBs, peroxisomal acyl-CoA oxidase (AOX) activity and peroxisomal volume density were 2-3 fold and 5-fold higher, respectively, compared to the reference site. When animals were transplanted to the polluted station, with increased concentration of organic xenobiotics, a concomitant significant increase of AOX was recorded. Conversely, in animals transplanted to the cleaner station, AOX activity and peroxisomal volume density decreased significantly. These results indicate that peroxisome proliferation is a rapid (i.e., two days) and reversible response to pollution in mussels. Before peroxisome proliferation can be implemented as a biomarker in biomonitoring programs, a well-defined protocol should be established and validated in intercalibration and quality assurance programmes. Furthermore, the influence of biotic and abiotic factors, some of which are known to affect peroxisome proliferation (season, tide level, interpopulation and interindividual variability), should be taken into consideration. The possible hepatocarcinogenic effects as well as the potential adverse effects on reproduction, development, and growth of peroxisome proliferators are unknown in aquatic organisms, thus providing a challenge for future investigations.