Simultaneous detection of HPV and other sexually transmitted agents in chronic urethritis

Three tests are routinely done to assess blood status of selenium in cattle: serum selenium, whole blood selenium, and glutathione peroxidase. The objective of this study was to compare the various analytical methods for determining blood selenium status in groups of mature cows and beef calves. Twenty to 30 blood samples per herd were collected from 8 beef herds in central Alberta and 1 dairy in Alberta herd twice a year from the spring of 1992 through the fall of 1995, and once from 185 spring calves in 2 beef herds in Saskatchewan. Serum and whole blood samples were submitted to 1 laboratory and whole blood samples were submitted to a 2nd laboratory. Samples for glutathione peroxidase determinations were submitted to a 3rd laboratory. Pearson's correlation coefficients and Cohen's kappa were calculated for each possible comparison among the different measures. The best agreement was observed between serum and whole blood analysis within Laboratory A. The remaining comparisons reflected poor agreement. Comparison of herd-level assessment resulted in better agreement than comparison of individual sample results among laboratories and procedures for all combinations tested. Serum selenium analysis was the only laboratory procedure for which external reference material was utilized. Serum selenium, whole blood selenium, and glutathione peroxidase measure different compartments of the blood selenium pool. The time frame of interest, supplementation practices, and the stability of recent dietary intake determine the optimum assessment method for individual animals or herds. Determination of the serum status or of blood selenium is more consistently measured at the herd-level than for individual samples.     

A Clinical Trial to Test the Feasibility of a Telehealth Psychoeducational Intervention for Persons With Schizophrenia and Their Families: Intervention and 3-Month Findings.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of a telehealth psychoeducation intervention for persons with schizophrenia and their family members. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial. Participants: 30 persons with schizophrenia and 21 family members or other informal support persons. Interventions: Web-based psychoeducation program that provided online group therapy and education. Main Outcome Measures: Measures for persons with schizophrenia included perceived stress and perceived social support; for family members, they included disease-related distress and perceived social support. Results: At 3 months, participants with schizophrenia in the intervention group reported lower perceived stress (p = .04) and showed a trend for a higher perceived level of social support (p = .06). Conclusions: The findings demonstrate the feasibility and impact of providing telehealth-based psychosocial treatments, including online therapy groups, to persons with schizophrenia and their families. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Olive oil traceability by means of chemical and sensory analyses: A comparison with SSR biomolecular profiles

The relationship between genetic diversity and phenotype in olive, instrumental to improve the efficacy of olive clonal selection, is still far from being fully understood. This work reports on a comparison made between plant SSR genetic data and quality of monovarietal olive oils. Nine monovarietal oils produced by selected genotypes were characterised under chemical and sensory profiles. Fatty acid compositions were determined to evaluate quantitative differences among oils; some fatty acids are actually highly correlated with the genetic matrix, and PCA of fatty acids composition explains 85.53% variability. Moreover some oils characterised by high levels of oleic acid appeared interesting from a nutritional standpoint. Organoleptic profiles evidenced differences especially for the attributes defined as “pleasant flavours”; oils obtained by different genetic matrices were characterised by different flavour intensities of tomato or artichoke, almond or aromatic herbs, correspondence analysis among sensory pleasant attributes and olive oil samples explaining 91.68% variability.     

Effects of Eltrombopag on In Vitro Macrophage Polarization in Pediatric Immune Thrombocytopenia

Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disease characterized by autoantibodies-mediated platelet destruction, a prevalence of M1 pro-inflammatory macrophage phenotype and an elevated T helper 1 and T helper 2 lymphocytes (Th1/Th2) ratio, resulting in impairment of inflammatory profile and immune response. Macrophages are immune cells, present as pro-inflammatory classically activated macrophages (M1) or as anti-inflammatory alternatively activated macrophages (M2). They have a key role in ITP, acting both as effector cells, phagocytizing platelets, and, as antigen presenting cells, stimulating auto-antibodies against platelets production. Eltrombopag (ELT) is a thrombopoietin receptor agonist licensed for chronic ITP to stimulate platelet production. Moreover, it improves T and B regulatory cells functions, suppresses T-cells activity, and inhibits monocytes activation. We analyzed the effect of ELT on macrophage phenotype polarization, proposing a new possible mechanism of action. We suggest it as a mediator of macrophage phenotype switch from the M1 pro-inflammatory type to the M2 anti-inflammatory one in paediatric patients with ITP, in order to reduce inflammatory state and restore the immune system function. Our results provide new insights into the therapy and the management of ITP, suggesting ELT also as immune-modulating drug.     

Development of dieldrin,endosulfan, and hexachlorobenzene‐imprinted polymers for dye‐displacement array sensing

Due to the toxicity associated with the exposure to organochlorine pesticides, new materials capable of selectively capturing and detecting these compounds are highly desirable. In this study, imprinted polymers were prepared using three organochlorine pesticides—dieldrin (DE), endosulfan (EN), or hexachlorobenzene (HCB) as templates. The MIPs were polymerized via precipitation polymerization. The yields were over 90% with particle sizes ranging from 62 to 214 nm. Binding studies combined with GC‐ECD analysis showed that each template is more selective to its corresponding MIP compared with the other two structurally homologous templates. These results were consistent with those obtained using UV–vis where more bromocresol green (BCG) dye was released when higher template concentrations were introduced to the corresponding BCG‐impregnated MIPs. Since unique selectivity response pattern for each of the MIPs was obtained, this demonstrated that the MIPs were selective and can be potentially used in dye‐displacement array sensing. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 44401.     

Physiological effects of whole cottonseed in the diet of lactating dairy cows

With 32 lactating Holstein cows we evaluated physiological effects of gossypol and cyclopropenoid fatty acids in diets containing 18.5% whole cottonseed (dry matter) based on corn, corn silage, and soybean meal. All cows consumed a control diet for the first 2 wk of lactation and then were assigned to either control or whole cottonseed diet for the remainder of their lactation. Milk production, milk fat and protein percentages, and daily dry matter intake were measured. Dry matter intakes were less for cows consuming the whole cottonseed diet, but net energy intake was similar for all diets. Milk fat from cows consuming whole cottonseed contained detectable concentrations of cyclopropene fatty acids. Total lipid in plasma, total serum cholesterol, serum gossypol, and apparent liver gossypol concentrations were greater in cows fed whole cottonseed. Gossypol and cyclopropenoid fatty acids appeared to be absorbed from the gut of cows fed whole cottonseed. Small amounts of gossypol in serum and liver tissue and small amounts of cyclopropene fatty acids in adipose tissue lipids and milk fat indicate a need to elucidate the significance of these physiologically active compounds in the human diet and their biological effects on lactating dairy cows.     

Comparative study between ANN models and conventional equations in the analysis of fatigue failure of GFRP

The purpose of this paper is to assess the applicability of two artificial neural networks (ANN) architecture, perceptron ANN, modular ANN, and Adam’s equation in the modeling of fatigue failure in polymer composites, more specifically in glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP). In the application of the model using ANN we show the feasibility of obtaining good results with a small number of S–N curves. The other model used involves applying empirical equations known as Adam’s equations. A comparative study on the application of the aforementioned models is developed based on statistical tools such as correlation coefficient and mean square error. For this analysis we used composite materials in the form of laminar structures with distinct stacking sequences, which are applied industrially in the construction of large reservoirs. Reinforcements consist of mats and bidirectional textile fabric made of E-glass fibers soaked in unsaturated orthophthalic polyester resin. These were tested for six different stress ratios: R = 1.43, 10, ?1.57, ?1, 0.1, and 0.7. The results showed that although ANN modeling is in the initial phase, it has great application potential.     

Data-driven and tool-supported elicitation of quality requirements in agile companies

Software Quality Journal - Quality requirements (QRs) are a key artifact needed to ensure the quality and success of a software system. Despite their importance, QRs rarely get the same degree of...