Detection of an anatoxin-a(s)-like anticholinesterase in natural blooms and cultures of cyanobacteria/blue-green algae from Danish lakes and in the stomach contents of poisoned birds

Ten natural bloom samples of cyanobacteria from the Danish lakes Knud s? (5), Ravn s? (4), and Salten Langs? (1) collected during 1993-1995 were assayed for toxicity by mouse bioassay, for acetylcholinesterase inhibiting activity by a colorimetric method, and for microcystins by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In the mouse bioassay, seven samples were neurotoxic, two were non-toxic and one gave a protracted toxic response. One of the non-toxic and the single protracted toxic sample both contained anticholinesterase activity equivalent to 4 micrograms anatoxin-a(s) g-1. The neurotoxic samples contained equivalents to 20-3300 micrograms anatoxin-a(s) g-1. The highest anticholinesterase activities (equivalent to 2300 and 3300 micrograms anatoxin-a(s) g-1, respectively) were found in samples collected from Lake Knud s? in connection with bird-kills in 1993 and 1994. Small amounts of microcystins (0.1-0.9 microgram g-1) were detected in all samples but one. All Lake Knud s? and Lake Ravn s? samples were dominated by Anabaena lemmermannii, and the Lake Salten Langs? sample by several species of Anabaena. Gel filtration profiles indicated similarity between the toxic component from the Lake Knud s? 1994 bloom with registered bird-kills and anatoxin-a(s) isolated from Anabaena flos-aquae NRC-525-17. Anticholinesterase-producing cultures of A. lemmermannii were isolated from the Lake Knud s? 1993 bloom. These laboratory cultures produced anatoxin-a(s) equivalents of 29-743 micrograms g-1. Other cultures of A. lemmermannii isolated from Lake Knud s? and Lake Ravn s? were hepatotoxic or non-toxic. Dead birds collected from Lake Knud s? during the neurotoxic 1993 Anabaena bloom possibly died from cyanobacterial toxicosis. The stomach contents contained colonies and single trichomes of Anabaena, and anticholinesterase activities equivalent to 2.1-89.7 micrograms anatoxin-a(s) kg-1 body weight and microcystins (53-95 ng kg-1) were also detected.     

Magnetic resonance imaging of disseminated sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic demyelinating disease. Paraclinical examinations may contribute to the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has a very high sensitivity concerning multiple sclerosis, and has made it possible to visualize multiple sclerosis plaques in vivo, to follow each plaque over the course of time and in this way to obtain information about the pathogenesis. MRI has shown that the size of plaques may vary considerably, and that plaques are dynamic structures with the ability to change in size over few weeks. By using MRI and the contrast agent Gadolinium-DTPA, it is possible to distinguish a newly developed plaque from an older one. Therefore, MRI has become an important examination in therapeutic trials. Just now, MRI with Gadolinium-DTPA is being used to evaluate the efficacy of plasmapheresis and immunoglobulin treatment in a joint study between Rigshospitalet and Hvidovre Hospital.     

Improved Prediction of Ozone Levels in Urban and Rural Atmospheres

Based on data obtained in terms of the first International cooperative program on the effects of acidic precipitations on materials (ICP Materials) of the United Nations European Commission on Economics (UN ECE), the relations between the ozone O₃ and nitrogen dioxide NO₂ concentrations in combination with the sunshine effect (taken into account either as the solar radiation (Rad) or the sunshine duration (Sun)) are considered. Analysis based on monthly and annual averages led to a new equation recommended for predicting ozone levels over rural, urban, and industrial areas of Europe as a function of NO₂ concentration and Sun parameter. Using Rad instead of Sun provides similar results, but, for practical usage, the equation involving a more easily available parameter Sun was recommended. The new equation corrects and improves the earlier proposed one, in which the concentration of ozone was given as a function of NO₂ concentration solely, and is included in the UN ECE Manual on mapping critical loads / levels and geographical areas where they are exceeded.     

The Physical Context of Creativity

Creative processes are complex and consist of sub‐processes, e.g. value creation, scaffolding, imagination and materialization. Creativity takes place in a physical context, i.e. in a confined space. Such space restricts and enables the free flow of sensory experiences and proximity of other people. The confinements may make certain sensory experiences available, e.g. vision of source material, sight and sound (including noise). This framing allows certain cognitive processes and restricts others. This may induce emotions that, in turn, facilitate or reduce the enhancement of creativity. Physical space affects the well‐being of people, the channels of information, the availability of knowledge tools and sets the stage for coherence and continuity, which may contribute to competitive advantages.     

Antihypertensive agent moxonidine enhances muscle glucose transport in insulin-resistant rats

The sympatholytic antihypertensive agent moxonidine, a centrally acting selective I1-imidazoline receptor modulator (putative agonist), may be beneficial in hypertensive patients with insulin resistance. In the present study, the effects of chronic in vivo moxonidine treatment of obese Zucker rats--a model of severe glucose intolerance, hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia--on whole-body glucose tolerance, plasma lipids, and insulin-stimulated skeletal muscle glucose transport activity (2-deoxyglucose uptake) were investigated. Moxonidine was administered by gavage for 21 consecutive days at 2, 6, or 10 mg/kg body weight. Body weights in control and moxonidine-treated groups were matched, except at the highest dose, at which final body weight was 17% lower in the moxonidine-treated animals compared with controls. The moxonidine-treated (6 and 10 mg/kg) obese animals had significantly lower fasting plasma levels of insulin (17% and 19%, respectively) and free fatty acids (36% and 28%, respectively), whereas plasma glucose was not altered. During an oral glucose tolerance test, the glucose response (area under the curve) was 47% and 67% lower, respectively, in the two highest moxonidine-treated obese groups. Moreover, glucose transport activity in the isolated epitrochlearis muscle stimulated by a maximally effective insulin dose (13.3 nmol/L) was 39% and 70% greater in the 6 and 10 mg/kg moxonidine-treated groups, respectively (P<.05 for all effects). No significant alterations in muscle glucose transport were elicited by 2 mg/kg moxonidine. These findings indicate that in the severely insulin-resistant and dyslipidemic obese Zucker rat, chronic in vivo treatment with moxonidine can significantly improve, in a dose-dependent manner, whole-body glucose tolerance, possibly as a result of enhanced insulin-stimulated skeletal muscle glucose transport activity and reduced circulating free fatty acids.     

Calcium addition in straw gasification

The present work focuses on the influence of calcium addition in gasification. The inorganic-organic element interaction as well as the detailed inorganic-inorganic elements interaction has been studied. The effect of calcium addition as calcium sugar/molasses solutions to straw significantly affected the ash chemistry and the ash sintering tendency but much less the char reactivity. Thermo balance test are made and high-temperature X-ray diffraction measurements are performed, the experimental results indicate that with calcium addition major inorganic-inorganic reactions take place very late in the char conversion process. Comprehensive global equilibrium calculations predicted important characteristics of the inorganic ash residue. Equilibrium calculations predict the formation of liquid salt if sufficient amounts of Ca are added and according to experiments as well as calculations calcium binds silicon primarily as calcium silicates and less as potassium calcium silicates.     

Data reconciliation and optimal operation of a catalytic naphtha reformer

The naphtha reforming process converts low-octane gasoline blending components to high-octane components for use in high-performance gasoline fuels. The reformer also has an important function as the producer of hydrogen to the refinery hydrotreaters. A process model based on a unit model structure, is used for estimation of the process condition using data reconciliation. Measurements are classified as redundant or non-redundant and the model variables are classified as observable, barely observable or unobservable. The computed uncertainty of the measured and unmeasured variables shows that even if a variable is observable it may have a very large uncertainty and may thereby be practically unobservable. The process condition at 21 data points, sampled from two years of operation, was reconciled and used to optimize the process operation. There are large seasonal variations in the reformer product price and two operational cases are studied. In case 1, the product price is high and throughput is maximized with respect to process and product quality constraints. In case 2, the product price is low and the throughput is minimized with respect to a low constraint on the hydrogen production. Based on the characteristics of the optimal operation, a “self optimizing” control structure is suggested for each of the two operational cases.     

Will musculoskeletal and visual stress change when Visual Display Unit (VDU) operators move from small offices to an ergonomically optimized office landscape?

This study investigated the effect of moving from small offices to a landscape environment for 19 Visual Display Unit (VDU) operators at Alcatel Denmark AS. The operators reported significantly improved lighting condition and glare situation. Further, visual discomfort was also significantly reduced on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). There was no significant correlation between lighting condition and visual discomfort neither in the small offices nor in the office landscape. However, visual discomfort correlated significantly with glare in small offices i.e. more glare is related to more visual discomfort. This correlation disappeared after the lighting system in the office landscape had been improved. There was also a significant correlation between glare and itching of the eyes as well as blurred vision in the small offices, i.e. more glare more visual symptoms. Experience of pain was found to reduce the subjective assessment of work capacity during VDU tasks. There was a significant correlation between visual discomfort and reduced work capacity in small offices and in the office landscape. When moving from the small offices to the office landscape, there was a significant reduction in headache as well as back pain. No significant changes in pain intensity in the neck, shoulder, forearm, and wrist/hand were observed.The pain levels in different body areas were significantly correlated with subjective assessment of reduced work capacity in small offices and in the office landscape.By careful design and construction of an office landscape with regard to lighting and visual conditions, transfer from small offices may be acceptable from a visual-ergonomic point of view.